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"V^     <^^^V^  . 


OF   THE 

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1 

Theb 

"1  o-g  i  e  a  1    S  e  m  in  a  r  y , 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

^    1 

Case, 

, Division 

.25. 

.... ! 

Shelf, 

Section.-...-.,... 

„.... 

.... 

\           Booh, 

! 

No, ...-. 

PREFACE. 


K   U  "^^^  Translation  of  the  New  Testament, 

which  Is  here  delivered  to  the  public,  hath 

employed  the  ftudy  and  application  of  fome 

years.     Nothing  hath  been  wanting  that  my 

abihties,  and  the  corredlions  of  my  learped  friends,  could 

give  this  publication,  to  render  it  worthy  the  acceptance 

of  the  candid  and  intelligent  Chriftian.     But  as  it  is 

impoffible  to  forefee  what  reception  this  work  will  meet 

with  from  the  world,  I  deem  it  prudent  to  conceal  the 

jiames  of  thofe  learned  friends  who  perufed  the  whole  or 

fart  of  the  manufcript,  and  what  their  fentiments  were 

7    .  of  the  execution  and  utility  of  the  defign,  though  the 

'^'''  mention  of  their  names  would  do  me  honour,  as  fome 

of  them  have  defervedly  attained  the  firfb  eminence  ia 

the  republic  of  letters.     I  begun  and  purfued  the  un- 

^_  dertaking  upon  this  plan,  yiz.   To  tranilate  the  facred 

^  writers  of  the  New  Teftament  with  the  fame  freedom, 

impartiality,  and  elegance,  with  which  other  tranilations 

from  the  Greek  claflics  have  lately  been  executed,  and 

to  cloathe  the  genuine  ideas  and  dodrines  of  the  Apoftles 

with  that  propriety  and  pcrfpicuity,  in  which  they  them- 

felves,  I   apprehend,  would   have  exhibited  them  had 

they  720W  lived  and  written  in  our  language.     The  true 

meaning- and  defign  of  each  author  hath  been  ftridly  and 

impartially  explored,  the  fignification  and  force  of  the 

Greek  Original  hath  been  critically  obfervdd,  and,  as 

much  as  polfible,  transfufed  into  modern  Englilli,  and 

the  whole  facred  volume  elucidated  and  explained  upon 

a  new  and  rational  plan,  with  feledl  Notes,  critical  and 

explanatory.    The  reader  is  delired  ever  to  bear  in  mind, 

that  this  is  not  a  "jcrl^al  tranflation,  but  a  liberal  2iV\d  dif- 

fufroe  verfion  of  the  facred  claffics,  and  is  calculated  to 

anfwer  the  purpofe  of  an  explanatory  paraphrafe  as  well, 

A  2  as 


IV  PREFACE. 

as  a  free  and  elegant  tranflation.  Every  fcholar  knows; 
that  the  idioms  and  ftrudure  of  the  antient  are  fo  eflcn- 
tially  different  from  the  modern  languages,  that  a  literal 
2iX\dfer'vile  verlion  of  any  Greek  and  Latin  author  muft 
necelTariiy  be  barbarous  and  unintelligible. 

The  method  I  purfued  was  this.  I  Jirjl  carefullv 
perufed  every  chapter  to  invefligate  and  difcover  the  one 
true  meaning  of  the  author  with  all  the  accuracy  and 
fagacity  I  could  employ,  attending  to  his  reafoning.^  and 
to  the  principles  and  doftrines  he  defigned  to  inculcate, 
ever  confulting  the  bed:  commentators  upon  abflrufe 
paflages,  and  conftantly  imploring  the  infinite  Source 
of  light  and  wifdom  to  illuminate  my  imperfect  under- 
ftanding.  When  I  apprehended  I  had  found  out  the 
true  fignification  of  the  Original,  and  the  precife  ideas  of 
the  writer  at  the  time  he  wrote,  my  next  ftudy  was  to 
adorn  them  in  fuch  language  as  is  ?iow  written,  and  to 
transfufe  them  through  the  medium  of  a  liberal  and  ex- 
planatory verfion.  So  that  my  firjl  view  always  was 
with  impartiality  and  critical  attention  to  difcover  the  true 
fenfe  of  my  author  ;  my  7iext  view,  to  cloathe  his  ideas 
in  the  veft  of  modern  elegance.  Elegance  of  didtion, 
therefore,  hath  ever  been  confultcd,  but  never  at  the 
expcnce  of  that  truth  and  fidelity,  which  ought  ever  to 
be  facred  and  inviolable  in  an  interpreter  of  Scripture. 

It  is  pleafing  to  obferve,  how  much  our  language, 
within  thefe  very  few  years,  hath  been  refined  and  po- 
lifhed,  and  what  infinite  improvements  it  hath  lately 
received.  The  writings  of  Hume^  Robert/on^  Lowtb^ 
Lyttchon,  Hurd,  Mclmoth^  Jobifon,  and  Hawkcjworth,  will 
fland  an  everlafting  monument,  of  what  grace  and  purity 
in  didion,  of  what  elegance  and  harmony  in  arrange- 
ment, and  of  what  copioufnefs  and  llrength  in  compo- 
fition,  cur  language  is  capable  ;  and  the  writings  of  thelc 
learned  and  illuflrious  autliors  are  not  only  a  diffinguilhed 
honour  and  orHament  to  their  country,  but  in  point  of 
true  excellence  and  fublimity  will  bear  tlie  ievcrell:  cri-* 

tical 


PREFACE.  V 

tical  comparlfon  with  the  politeft  writers  of  Greece  and 
Rome.  The  author  knew  it  to  be  an  arduous  and  in- 
vidious attempt  to  make  the  phrafe  of  thefe  celebrated 
writers  the  vehicle  of  infpired  truths,  and  to  diffufe  over 
the  facred  page  the  elegance  of  modern  Englifl:!,  con- 
fcious  that  the  bald  and  barbarous  language  of  the  old 
vulgar  verlion  hath  acquired  a  venerable  facrednefs  from 
length  of  time  and  cuftom,  and  that  every  innovation  of 
this  capital  nature  would  be  generally  ftigmatized  as  the 
laft  and  moil:  daring  enormity.  But  notwithftanding  this 
perfuafion,  he  flattered  himlelf  that  fuch  a  Tranllation 
of  the  New  Teilament  might  induce  perfons  of  a  liberal 
education  and  polite  tafte  to  perufe  the  facred  volume, 
and  that  fuch  a  verfion  might  prove  of  fignal  fervice  to 
the  caufe  of  truth,  liberty,  and  Chriftianity,  if  men  of 
cultivated  and  improved  minds,  elpecially  Youth,  could 
be  allured  by  the  innocent  ftratagem  of  a  modern  ftylt\ 
to  read  a  book,  which  is  now,  alas !  too  generally  ne- 
gleded  and  difregarded  by  the  young  and  gay,  as  a  vo- 
lume containing  little  to  amuie  and  delight,  and  furnifli- 
ing  a  ftudy  congenial  only  to  the  gloom  of  old  age,  or 
to  the  melancholy  mind  of  a  defponding  vifionary. 
V/hat  animated  and  inlpired  me  through  the  whole 
work,  was  the  pleafing  thought,  that  by  the  execution 
of  this  defign,  1  might,  through  the  blcfling  of  God, 
engage  the  Rising  Generation  to  admire  and  love 
the  facred  ciaffics,  to  underftand  the  duties,  dodfrines, 
and  difcoveries  of  the  gofpcl,  and  to  venerate  Chrifha- 
nity  as  the  caufe  of  God,  of  truth,  ot  virtue,  of  liber- 
ty, and  of  immortality. 

:fi!This  is  the  First  Attempt  of  this  nature  in  our 
language,  and  this  confideration,  I  hope,  \yiil  entitle  it 
to  the  learned  reader's  candour  and  indulgence.  Jn  this 
undertaking,  Cajlalio  was  my  precedent  and  pattern.  I 
-  have  attempted  in  Englijh,  what  Ca/ialio  executed  in 
Latin.  Cajlalio  hath  deicrved  well  of  mankind  for  tranf- 
lating  the  Scriptures  in  a  pure,  elegant,  and  diifufive  (lyle. 

the 


vi  PREFACE. 

The  relation  and  mutual  dependence  of  detached  fen- 
tences,  and  the  feveral  diftin6t  deductions  in  a  train  of 
argumentation,  I  have  pointed  out  and  elucidated  by  the 
incidental  inlertion  of  a  few  conned:ive  words  or  par- 
ticles.   The  obiture  paffages  that  varioufly  occur,  I  have 
attempted  in  the  body  of  the  Tranllation  to  explain  an4 
illuftrate  in  a  perfpicuous  and  explicit  manner.     I  have 
carefully  explored  and  have  endeavoured,  upon  rationa} 
principles,  clearly  to  exhibit  the  reafoning  of  St.  Paul  in 
the  Romans  and  Galatians.    The  old  divilion  of  chapters, 
and  verfes  I  have,  been  perfuaded,  contrary  to  my  owi^ 
judgment,  to  retain,    but  I  have  every  where  fignified 
to  the  reader,  by  the  manner  of  printing  and  piinSluation^ 
when  they  are  erroneous;  and  1  have  divided  the  whole 
into  fe^ions.     The  parallel  paffages,  and  illuftrations  of 
particular   phrafes   and  modes  of  expreffion   from  the 
Creek  and  Latin  claflics,  I  colleded  in  reading  the  an- 
tients^  and  I  have  generally  fpecified  the  page  and  edi~ 
Uon  trom  which  they  are  cited. 

I  can  truly  fay,  and  1  appeal  to  that  Being  for  my 
fincerity,  before  whom  I  mull  very  fliortly  appear,  that 
my  firil  and  primary  defign  in  this  work  was  to  exhi- 
bit the  Chriftian  Religion  in  its  native  purity  and  original 
fimplicity,  unadulterated  with  human  fyilems,  creeds, 
doctrines,  and  modes  of  faith.  In  this  work  I  have 
ccniidercd  niylclf  as  belonging  to  no  one  party,  fedt, 
r«jid  denomination  of  Chriliians,  but  have  given  a  fair 
and  honcll:  verfion  of  the  divine  Volume,  juH:  as  if  \ 
had  iat  down  to  tianliate  Flalo^  Xenophon^  Tlmcydides, 
Phut  arch,  or  any  ether  CI  reck  writer,  with  a  mind  exempt, 
as  much  as  jrail  humanity  can  be  exempt,  from  preju- 
dices and  prcpoirclfion,  and  folely  inteiu  upon  invefti- 
gating  and  difcovering  truth.  ^ 

^ ;  I'vvcry  one  mufi  be  convinced,  that  a  faithful  and  ac- 
curate verlion  o'  any  writer  in  a  dead  language  is  futH- 
cient  for  undeiilanding  the  meaning  and  dei^gn  of  that 
authcr,,- jyad  that  the  fidelity  of  fuch  ^  translator  entirejj^ 

fuperfedcs 


PREFACE.  vii 

fuperfedes  all  the  tedious  explications  and  laborious  idle- 
nefs  of  dull  and  heavy  commentators.  The  author, 
therefore,  prefumes  to  affert,  that  the  New  Teftament 
itfclf^  if  carefully  and  candidly  peruled,  with  a  mind  open 
to  the  reception  of  truth,  will,  by  all  rational  and  intel- 
ligent ChriftianSi  be  judged  to  conduce  to  a  more  clear 
and  comprehenfive  knowledge  of  Chriftianity  than  thofe 
voluminous  critics,  paraphrafts,  illuftrators,  and  interpre- 
tors  of  the  facred  Scriptures,  who  have,  in  general,  done 
more  harm  than  good,  as  the  majority  of  them  have 
ftrenuoufly  laboured  to  make  Jefus  Chrift  and  his  Apo- 
flles,  Piipifts^  or  Lutherans^  or  Cahinifts^  and  have  been 
liiord  ftudious  to  wreft  the  Scriptures  to  their  precon- 
ceived notions,  than  to  adjud:  their  religious  fentiments 
by  the  plain  dilates  of  reafon  and  the  infallible  rule  and 
flandard  of  the  divine  oracles.  Within  thefe  few  years 
\ihat  dire  inundations  have  we  feen  rufhing  from  the 
prefs  and  deluging  the  public,  of  Commentators  upoii 
the  Scriptures,  Explanations  of  the  Holy  Bible,  the  Royal 
Bible  with  notes,  the  Grand  complete  Bible,  the  Grand 
Irnperia]  Bible  !  fome  the  jobbs  of  mercenaiy  Bookfellers, 
others  the  fickly  dreams  of  illiterate  Enthufiafts  and  en- 
tranced Vifionaries,  and  the  generality  of  them,  the 
linifter  produdion  of  dark  and  melancholy  Divines,  the 
bigotted  abettors  of  unintelligible  myfterics  and  unfcrip- 
tural  abfurditics.  But  notwithftanding  this  melancholy 
ftate  of  Religion,  and  this  general  corruption  of  pure 
and  primitive Chriftianity,  yet,  blefled  be  God,  Liberty, 
Religious  Liberty,  has  ftill  a  temple  in  the  breaft 
of  thoufands,  and  the  love  of  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jefus,  and 
not  in  human  creeds,  is  warm  and  vigorous  in  the  bo- 
idrhS'  of  immenfe  numbers  of  my  happy  countrymen  ! 
Many  of  thefe  worthy  fouls  have  encouraged  me.  The 
thought  of  them,  and  their  caiije,  has  ever  infpired  me 
with  ardour  and  animation  in  my  fludies.  For  thefe  I 
have  tranilated  the  New  Testament.  Thefe,  and 
thefe  alone  will  be  my  readers.    The  patronage  and  pro- 

tedioii 


viii  P  R  i-:  y  \  C  E. 

tedtion  of  thefe  hath  enabled  me,  and  will  ever  enable 
mCjto  look  down  upon  the  illiberal  fcurrility  and  impotent 
fury  of  the  uncharitable  bigot  with  Chriltian  contempt. 

In  fine,  lince  deifm,  infidelity,  and  fccpticifm,  fo  much 
prevail  in  the  prcfent  age  ;  fince  even  popery  now  hath 
its  public  aderters  and  advocates  ;  fince  enthufiafm  is 
continually  duping  and  enllaving  the  credulous  and  igno- 
rant, both  among  the  great  vulgar  and  the  fmall,  and  is 
daily  making  a  more  rapid  and  amazing  progrefs  all 
around  us  -,  fince  i-ational  Chrifi:ianity  is,  at  prelbnt,  re- 
garded with  fo  much  contempt,  and  even  horrour,  by 
the  generality  of  the  world  ;  and  fince  a  love  of  unin- 
telligible myfieries,  and  a  fondnefs  for  gloomy  and  in- 
explicable dodtrines,  have,  with  the  majority^  dilcardcd 
rcafon  and  common  fenfe  from  religion,  the  author  flat- 
ters himfclf  the  prefent  work  will  be  ufeful  to  his  coun- 
try, in  which  it  hath  been  his  fludy  to  free  the  New 
Testament  from  thofe  falfe  tranflations,  which,  at 
prefent,  deform  it,  and  render  it  abfolutcly  unintelligible 
to  all  common  readers  3  to  purify  its  facred  ftreams  tVorxi 
thofe  corrupt  admixtures,  bv  which  it  was  induftrioufly 
fuited  to  the  falfe  tafte  of  the  Monarch  and  of  the 
age,  in  which  it  was  tranflatedj  to  reprefent  it,  as  it 
really  is,  in  itfelf,  a  moil:  rational,  uniform,  amiable, 
confident  fcheme  ;  and  to  exhibit,  before  the  candid,  the 
unprejudiced,  and  the  intelligent  of  all  parties,  the  true, 
original,  divine  form  of  Chrillianity,  in  its  beautiful  fim- 
plicity,  diverted  of  all  the  meretricious  attire  with  which 
it  hath  been  loaded,  and  folely  adorned  with  its  native 
elegance  and  charms,  which  need  only  be  contemplated, 
in  order  to  excite  the  admiration,  tranfport,  and  love  of 
every  ingenuous  and  virtuous  bofom. 

.^-7°%  E-    HARWOOD. 

Aug.  2O,  1767. 


6^/^/- 


e-^  *'  *-  '^^  ♦   *-*'    *^ 


7 


THE 


HISTORY    OF    JESUS 


By    MATTHEW* 


CHAP,    t 


T 


H  E  following  is 
a  table  of  the  ge- 
nealogy of  Jefus 
the  MefTiah,  who  is  lineally 
defcended  from  David,  as 
David  is  from  Abraham. 


1.  Abraham 

2.  Ifaac 
3-  Jacob 

4.  Judas 

5.  Phares 

6.  Efrom 

7.  Aram 

8.  Aminadab 

9.  Naaflbn 

10.  Salmon 

11.  Booz 

12.  Obed 

13.  JelTe 

14.  David 

1.  Solomon 

2.  Roboam 

3.  Abia 

4.  Afa 
Vol.  I. 


10 


II 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


^.  Jofaphat 

6.  Joram 

7.  Ozias 

8.  Jotham 

9.  Achaz 

10.  Ezechias 

11.  Manafies 

12.  Amon 

13.  Jofias 

14.  Jehoiakim:  about 

the  time  of  the 
captivity. 

1.  Jehoiakin 

2.  Salathiel 

3.  Zoro babel 

4.  Abiud 

5.  Eliakim 

6.  Azor 

7.  Sadoc 

8.  Achim 

9.  Ehud 

10.  Eleazaf 

11.  IVlatthan 

12.  Jacob 

13.  Jofeph 

14.  Jefus 

B  17  So 


of  Jesus  Chap.  ii. 

call  Jefus,    for   he  (hall  favc 
his  people  from  their  vices. 

2  2  Now  the  whole  of  this 
amazing  event  was  exattly 
iimilar  to  another  inrcance, 
which  is  recorded  by  an  in- 
Ipired  prophet  in  thefe  words: 

23  Behold!  a  pure  virgin 
ihall  be  pregnant,  and  fliall 
bring  forth  a  fon,  who  fliall 
be  called  Emmanuel,  which 
vrannated  fignifies,  God  is 
ijuith  us. 

24  When  Jofeph  av/oke, 
he  a6led  according  to  the  di- 
redionof  the  angel,  and  took 
her  to  wife  : 

25  But  refrained  from  all 
conjugal  embraces  ''  *tiil  her 
delivery —  He  called  her  fon 
Jefus, 

c  n  A  p.  II. 

I  T  N  the  reign  of  Herod 
-*•  was  Jcfus  born  in  Beth- 
lehem of  Judea — at  which 
itime  fomc  eaftern  Philofo- 
phers  came  to  J.erufalem — 
and  faid, 

2  Dire6l  us  where  we  may 
find  him  who  is  lately  born 
to  be  the  king  of  the  Jews  ; 
for    having   ken   his  ftar   in 

»  This  is  the  mcaninj;  of  gwih^uv.  A/f  <Tvv'-\^ai'T-i;  T.KvoToi'urj.i^d.. 
Xcnophon.  mcmor.  p.  103.  Ed.  Oxon.  1741.  Wiiaett  rov  ctVdf<A  <rvvi\' 
e«/r.  Plut.  Lycurg.  p.  89.  Ed.  Steph.  ^unxQuv  A  kai  yfts?,  a.  7.  A. 
Plutarch.  Thtfeus.  p.  ;.     See  alfo  i  Cor.  vii.  5. 

''  yiyccffKu  is  uled  in  the  fame  fenfe  in  other  greek  writers.  Bipyivnif 
—  5  i'K<  0  AA;^rtf</'p3f-  Plutarch.  Eumen.  p.  1065.  Ed.  Steph.  Mo^nt- 
yiiuffK^H'Tot  Tw  yiyaunuivnv.  Pompcius.  p.  1182.  Ovid  alfo.  Cog- 
nita  Cyanee — Met.  Lib.  9.  451. 

2  the 


2  The  Hlflbry 

17  So  that  from  this  table 
you  fee  tliat  there  were  tour- 
teen  generations  in  all,  from 

Abraham   to  David from 

David  alfo  to  the  Babylonifh 
captivity  there  were  juft  four- 
teen generations — there  were 
likev,'ife  exaftly  fourteen  from 
the  captivity  to  the  MefTiah. 

§ — 18  The  conception  of 
Jefus  the  MefTiah  was  in  this 
Supernatural  manner —  Mary 
his  Mother  had  been  efpouf- 
ed  to  Jofeph,  but  before  they 
cohabited  %  it  was  difcovered 
that  flie  had  become  preg- 
nant by  the  holy  Spirit. 

19  But  her  huR^and  Jofeph 
being  a  companionate  man, 
and  unwilling  to  expofe  her 
fhame  to  the  world,  intended 
to  repudiate  her  in  a  private 
manner. 

20  As  he  was  revolving 
theie  thoughts  in  his  mind, 
lo!  an  angel  of  God  appeared 
to  him  in  a  dream  and  fpokc 
thus — O  Jofeph,  Son  of  Da- 
vid !  hefitate  not  to  admit 
and  treat  iVIary  as  thy  lawful 
wife,  for  Ihe  liath  conceived 
from,  the  holy  Spnit, 

21  and  fhe  fliall  give  birth 
to   a   fon,  whom  thou  llialt 


Chap.  ii.  by   M  a  t 

the  eafi:,  we  are  come  to  pay 
him  adoration. 

3  At  thefe  words  king  Ke- 
rod  and  all  Jerufalem  were 
(truck  with  the  utmoil  con- 
fternation. 

4  The  king  then  imme- 
diately convoked  an  affembly 
of  all  the  high  priefts  and 
Jewiih-  clergy,  and  anxiouQy 
interrogated  them  concerning 
the  place  where  the  Mel- 
fiah  w^s  to  be  born. 

5  They  told  him  that  the 
place  deftined  for  his  nativity 
was  Bethlehem  of  Judea — 
for  it  was  exprefsly  mention- 
ed by  an  infpired  prophet  in 
thefe  words, 

6  "  O  thou  Bethlehem  ! 
thou  art  in  no  refpecb  infe- 
riour  to  the  firfl  and  moft 
renowned  cities  of  Judea  ;  for 
thou  fhalt  give  birth  to  a 
great  prince,  whofe  govern- 
ment ihall  extend  over  my 
people  Ifrael.'* 

7  The  king,  upon  hearing 
fo  plain  and  diredl  a  prophe- 
fy,  privately  fent  for  the  phi- 
lofophers,  and  "  fifted  from 
them  the  exad  time,  when 
the  ftar  firft  appeared  to  them 
in  their  country. 

c  This  is  the  meaning  of  nyp/C&x^?.  By  his  enquiries  he  made  himfelf 
acquainted  with  the  £xai?  time  that  the  Rar  JtrJ}  appeared,  in  order  th:it 
he  might  perfedly  knew  the  age  of  the  infant,  and  murder  all  the  chil- 
dren of  his  age  in  the  town. 

^  This  ftar  muft  necellarily  have  been  but  a  little  above  their  heads : 
©therwifc  it  could  not  have  indicated  to  the  Magians  a  particular  houfe. 

«=  This  was  agreeable  to  the  oriental  cuftom,  which  obtains  univerfally 
in  the  eaft  to  this  day.  None  waits  upon  an  ealtern  prince  without  a 
|>refent. 

B  2  their 


THE  w. 

8  And  when  he  difmiiTed 
them,  he  laid.  Go  to  oeth- 
lehem,  and  make  the  moft 
diligtrnt  enquiries  you  arc 
able  concerning  this  infant, 
and  when  you  have  found 
him,  give  me  immediate 
information,  that  I  may  fly 
to  him,  and  join  with  you  in 
mutual  adorations. 

9  No  fooner  were  they 
parted  from  the  king  and 
begun  their  journey,  but  be- 
hold !  the  luminous  ftar, 
which  they  had  Teen  in  the 
eaft,  advanced  before  them 
—which  they  followed,  'till 
they  fay  it  fixed  over  the 
houfe,  v/here  the  child  was. 

lo,  The  appearance  of  this 
ftar  "^  filled  them  v/ith  inex- 
prefTible  tranfport. 

1 1  Entering  therefore  the 
houfe,  to  which  it  had  di' 
re£led  them,  and  fee.nig  the 
child  and  his  mother,  they 
prcftrated  themfelves  before 
him,  and  paid  him  homage: 
and  opening  their  treafures 
they  made  him  rich  pre- 
fents  %  confifting  of  gold, 
frankincenfe,  and  myrrh. 

12  After  they  had  in  this 
refpedlful     manner    reft. Bed 


4  "The  Hiftory 

their  fcnfe  of  the  dignity  of 
his  perfon,  divine  providence 
^dmonifhed  them  in  a  dream 
not  to  go  back  to  Herod  — 
So  they  returned  into  their 
own  country  by  a  different 
road. 

13  After  their  departure, 
an  angel  of  God  appeared  to 
Jofeph  in  a  dream,  and  thus 
fpokc.  Rife  immediately — 
take  the  child  and  his  mother 
—hafte  into  Egypt,  and  con- 
tinue there,  'till  1  give  thee 
notice  to  return — for  Herod 
is  going  to  make  ftridl  fearch 
for  the  infant,  and  intends  to 
murder  it. 

14  Roufed  by  this  divine 
admonition  he  got   up 


took  his  wife  and  the  infant 
in  the  night,  and  made  a 
precipitate     flight     into    E- 

gypt  '• 

15  where  he  lived  till  He- 
rod's deceafe — So  that  one 
may  fitly  apply  to  him  an 
cxpreflion  of  one  of  the  pro- 
phets—  I  have  called  my  fon 
out  of  Egypt. 

§ — 16  But  when  Herod 
found  himfelf  deluded  and 
difappointed  by  the  philofo- 


of  Jesus  Chap.  li. 

phers,  he  was  dreadfully  cx- 
afperated,  and  immediately 
fent  afTaffins  and  butchered 
all  the  infants,  that  were  not 
only  in  Bethlehem,  but  in  all 
its  furrounds,  fparing  none 
that  were  two  years  old,  or 
under  that  age,  as  he  had 
accurately  examined  the  Ma- 
gians  concerning  the  age  of 
the  child. 

17  So  that  the  horrours 
of  this  fcene  exaflly  corrc- 
fponded  to  the  following  de- 
fcription  of  a  like  mournful 
calamity,  that  occurs  in  the 
prophet  Jeremiah. 

18  "A  loud  voice  of 
grief  was  heard  in  Rama, 
fhrieks  and  cries  and  piercing 
lamentations.  Rachel  de- 
ploring the  murder  of  her 
children,  and  quite  incon- 
folable  for  her  irreparable 
lofs  ^" 

§ — 19  When  Herod  was 
dead,  the  Angel  of  God  ap- 
pearing again  in  a  dream  to 
Jofeph, 

20  thus  accofted  him. 
Rife  —  take  the  babe  and 
his  mother,  and  return  into 
Ifracl — for  thofe  who  thirfted 


^  Let  it  fuffice,  once  for  all,  to  obfcrve,  that  the  writings  of  the  old 
Jewifh  prophets,  which  abound  in  fine  defcriptions,  poetical  images, 
and  fublimc  didion,  were  the  Clajjics  of  the  later  fews,  and  in  the  fub- 
fcqucnt  ages  all  their  writers  artcdlfd  allufions  to  them,  borrowed  their 
images  and  defcriptions,  and  very  often  cited  their  very  words,  when 
recording  any  event  or  circumitance  that  happened  in  the  hillory  of  the 
perfons  whofc  lives  they  were  relating,  provided  it  was  fimilar  and  pa- 
rallel to  one  that  happened  in  the  times,  or  was  dcfcribcd  in  the  books 
ef  the  antient  prophets. 

4  for 


Chap.  iii.  by   Matthew 

for  the  infant's  blood  are  now 


no  more. 

21  In  obedience  to  the 
divine  command,  therefore, 
he  returned  into  the  land  of 
Ifrael. 

22  Being,  however,  in- 
formed that  Archelaus  was 
hisfuccefTour  in  the  kingdom, 
he  was  afraid  to  approach 
Judea  — —  in  confequence, 
therefore,  of  a  divine  admo 
nition  he  retired  to  Galilee, 

-  23  and  lived  in  a  town 
called  Nazareth — by  this  cir- 
cumftance  verifying  the  pre- 
di<5lions  of  the  prophets,  that 
theMefliahlhould  be  brought 
up  in  a  mean  and  inglorious 
obfcurity. 


CHAP.    III. 

I  "pvURING  the  time 
^^  that  Jefus  lived  in 
this  private  retreat,  John  the 
Baptift  made  his  appearance, 
publifhing  this  folemn  pro- 
clamation in  the  wildernefs  of" 
Judea, 

2  "  Repent,  for  the  king- 
dom of  the  MefTiah  isjuft  at 
hand !" 

3  This  is  that  extraordi- 
nary perfon,  who  is  defcribed 
in  a  paffage  of  the  prophet 
Efaiah  in  thefe  words,  "  Hark! 
th«  voice  of  a  public  crier  in 

t  John  refers  to  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem  in  this  and  the  10th  and 
^2th  verfes. 

B  3  for 


the  wildernefs,  Prepare  a  way 
for  the  Mefliah,  make  an  cafy 
path  for  his  facred  fteps!" 

4  John  affefled  great plain- 
nefs  in  his  drefs,  and  great 
fimplicity  and  auftcrity  of 
manners,  wearing  a  gar- 
ment made  of  camels  hair, 
tied  with  a  girdle  of  leather, 
and  his  food  was  locufts  and 
wild  honey. 

5  Immediately  upon  this 
public  proclamation  there 
flocked  to  him  vail  crowds 
from  Jerufalem,  and  from  all 
Judea,  and  all  the  adjacent 
country  of  Jordan, 

6  and  they  were  all  baptiz- 
ed by  him  in  Jordan,  making 
penitent  confeflion  of  their 
fins. 

7  In  that  vafl:  concourfe 
that  reforted  to  his  baptifm 
were  mingled  great  numbers 
of  Pharifees  and  Sadducees, 
perfons  of  the  moft  abandon- 
ed principles  and  charader* 
— at  the  fight  of  whom  John 
broke  out  into  this  exclama- 
tion, O  profligate  and  hypo- 
critical wretches,  who  admo- 
nilhed  you  to  fhun  the  im- 
peruding  calamities  ^  } 

8  If  you  come  hither  as 
profefTed  penitents,  fhow  the 
fincerity  and  genuinenefs  of 
your  repentance  by  a  good  life: 

9  And  do  not  value  your- 
felves  upon  having  Abraham 


^he  Hiflcry  ^  J  e  s  u  s  Chap.  iv. 


for  your  great  progenitor, 
for  God  is  able  even  from 
thefe  ilones  to  form  a  race  of 
meninfiniicly  more  worthy  ot 
Abraham,  who  iLaU  inheiii 
hi"?  virtues,  and  whofe  lives 
flvall  rcried  dignity  upon  his 
cha  raster. 

10  The  ax  is  this  moment 
lying  at  the  tree's  root 


14  But  John  reful(;d  his 
requell,  alledging  that  he 
hiraiclf  ought  rather  to  be 
baptized  by  a  perfon  of  fuch 
fuperiour  dignity  and  emi- 
nence. 

1 5  To  thefe  remonftrances 
Jefus  repHed,  "  It  is  necef- 
fary  for  me  to  be  initiated  by 
this  ceremony  into  my  public 
miniilry,  and  incumbent  up- 
on me  to  fet  before  men  an 
example  of  univerfal  virtue'* 
— Upon  this  John  admitted 
him. 

16  Jefus,  therefore,  being 
baptized  came  immediately 
out  of  the  water  —  and  be- 
hold !  the  heavens  opened 
over  his  head,  and  the  fpirit 
of  God  defcended  with  the 
rapidity  of  a  dove,  and  refted 
upon  him. 

17  And  at  the  fame  time 
a  voice  ilfued  from  tlie  parted 
clouds  faying,  1  his  is  my 
beloved  Son,  the  amiable  ob- 
ject of  my  afredtion  ! 

C  H  A  P.    iV. 

I  COON  after  this  Jefus 
^  was  thrown  into  a  pro- 
phetic trance,  and  was  in  a 
vifion  tranfported  into  the 
wildcrnefs  to  be  tempted  by 
the  devil ', 

2  where, 

*•  See  Acls  ii.  3.  4. 

J  All  this  paffage  in  Chriil's  hiftory  from  the  firft  Verfe  to  the  12th 
is  the  narrative  of  a  vifjon.  The  antient  prophets  relate  vifionary  re- 
prefcntations  as  hiftoricai  fafts  ;  and  the  being  carried  by  the  fpirit  and 
hd  b)  the  Jpirit  arc  phrai'es  that  very  often  occur  in  the  prophets,  and 

fignify 


Kvcry  tree  that  doth  not  bear 
good  fruit,  is  immediately  to 
be  cut  down,  and  thrown  in- 
to the  fire. 

Ill  baptize  yon  indeed 
only  v/i:h  water  in  order  to 
repentance-,  but  my  fuccci- 
four  is  a  perfonage  of  in- 
finitely greater  dignity,  to 
whom  1  am  not  v.'orthy  to 
do  the  mieanefl:  oirice — he  will 
baptize  you  with  the  holy 
fpirit  and'  v/ith  fire  \ 

12  With  his  fan  he  will 
winnow  and  thoroughly  clear 
his  crops,  will  coliedt  and 
carefully  depofit  the  good 
grain  in  his  ftorehoufe,  but 
the  chaff  he  will  burn  up  and 
utterly  confume  with  fire  un- 
quenchable. 

§ — T^  At  that  time  Jefus 
alfo  takes  a  journey  from  Ga- 
lilee to  Jordan,  and  de fires 
John  fo  adminifter  the  office 
of  baprifm  to  him. 


/  ■ 


Chap.  iv.  fy    M  A  T  T  H  E  w. 

2  where,  after  having  fad- 
ed forty  days  and  forty  nights, 
and  being  excruciated  with 
hunger, 

3  the  tempter,  as  he 
thought,  came  to  him  and 
faid,  "  Since  thou  art  tiie  Ton 
of  God,  convert  thefe  Itones 
into  bread." 

4  To  whom  Jefus  replied 
in  the  words  of  Scripture, 
"  The  aninial  life  of  man 
may  be  fuftained  not  by  food 
only,  but  by  any  other  means 
that  the  v.  ill  of  God  ihall  fee 
proper  to  appoint '■■.** 

5  The  devil  then,  he 
thought,  conveyed  him  thro' 
the  air  to  Jerufalem,  and 
placed  him  on  one  of  the  bat- 
tlements of  the  temple', 

6  and  faid  to  him,  "  Since 
thou  art  the  Meffiah  throw 
thyfelf  down  ;  for  the  Scrip- 
ture fays,  "  Angels  fhall  be 
appointed  to  prote6t  thee, 
they  fliall  fupport  thee,  and 
prevent  thee  from  being 
dafhed  in  pieces." 

7  Jefus  replied,  "  There 
is  another  fcriptyre  which  fays, 
Thou  fhalt  not  infult  God's 
providence  by  rufhing  into 
danger." 

iignify  an  ideal  and  fcenical  exhibition  of  images  upon  the  mind  of 
the  entranced  prophet.  See  a  fimilar  inftance  to  this  in  Virgil  ^neid 
Lib.  3,  146—173. 

^  As  in  the  cafe  of  Mo/es,  Exod.xxiv.  18.  and  of  Elijah,  i  Kings 
xix.  8. 

'  Of  what  a  ftupendous  height  this  was  fee  Jofeph.  Ant.  ig.  Lib.  15. 
Ch.  II.  §  5.  See  alio  Sirak,  p.  762.  Paris,  and  Dio/i  Cajjius,  Tom.  L 
p.  121.  Reimar. 

B  4  maritime 


8  The  devil  then,  he 
thought,  tranfported  him  to 
the  iummit  of  a  mountain  of 
prodigious  height,  and  lliew- 
ed  him  all  the  kingdoms  of 
the  world,  and  all  the  fplen- 
dour  and  magnificence  of 
them : 

9  then  turned  to  him  and 
faid,  *'  All  thefe  extenfiva 
and  populous  countries  I  will 
give  thee,  if  thou  wilt  pro- 
llratc  thyfelf,  and  pay  me 
religious  adoration." 

10  To  which  propofal 
Jefus  anfwered  with  indig- 
nation, *'  Thou  wicked  ad- 
verfary  !  depart  from  me 
— for  the  infpired  word  of 
truth  fays,  "  Thou  fhialt  wor- 
fhip  and  obey  no  other  being 
but  the  fupreme  God  and 
governour  of  all." 

1 1  Upon  this,  he  thought, 
the  devil  left  him,  and  that 
angels  came  and  fupplied  him 
with  refrefliment. 

§—12  When  Jefus  was 
informed  that  John  was  im- 
prilbned,  he  retired  into 
Galilee ; 

13  and  leaving  Nazareth, 
he  refided  in  Capernaum,  a 


8  The  Hiftory 

maritime  town  in  the  con- 
fines of  Zabulon  and  Neph- 
thalim. 

14  So  that  to  the  refi- 
dence  of  the  MefTiah  in  this 
country  one  may  with  great 
propriety  adapt  the  following 
paffage  in  the  prophet  Efaiah, 

15  "O  thou  country  of  Za- 
bulon andNephthalim,  feat- 
cd  on  the  Tea  fhore  beyond 
Jordan  •,  thou  Galilee  on  the 
borders  of  the  Heathens, 

16  thine  inhabitants,  who 
had  long  been  involved  in 
darknefs,  faw  at  once  the 
shearing  beams  of  divine 
light  burft  upon  them,  which 
difpelled  from  thy  regions, 
the  {hades  of  that  denfe  and 
uncomfortable  obfcurity  that 
once  covered  them." 

J  7  Here  it  was  that  Jefus 
firft  entered  upon  his  public 
miniftry,  and  began  openly  to 
exhort  men  to  repent  and  re- 
form their  lives,  afluring 
them  that  the  kingdom  of  the 
MefTiah  would  very  foon  be 
creeled. 

§ — 18  As  Jefus  was  walk- 
jn or  along  the  fca  fhore  of  Ga- 
lilee, he  faw  two  brothers, 
"whofe  names  were  Simon 
(afterwards  called  Peter)  and 
Andrew,  who  were  fifhermen, 
and  happened  then  to  be  cafl- 
ing  a  net  into  the  fea, 


of  Jesus  Chap,  iy, 

19  he  faid  to  them.  Fol- 
low me,  and  I  will  teach  you 
an  higher  and  nobler  occupa- 
tion, not  to  catch  fifhes,  but 
men"". 

20  Upon  this  invitation, 
they  left  their  nets  immedi- 
ately, and  followed  him. 

21  Advancing  farther  he 
faw  two  other  brothers,  John 
and  James,  the  Sons  of  Ze- 
bedee,  who  were  now  with 
their  father  in  the  vcfTcl, 
mending  their  nets — them  he 
alfo  invited  to  this  great  and, 
important  office. 

22  And  they  in  like  man- 
ner immediately  left  their  fa- 
ther and  the  veffel,  and  obey- 
ed his  authoritative  call. 

23  Attended  with  thefc 
perfons  Jefus  travelled  over 
all  Galilee,  inftrucling  men 
in  the  places  appointed  for 
public  worfhip,  and  every 
where  proclaiming  the  good 
news  of  the  fpeedy  eredion 
of  the  Mefiiah's  kingdom* 
and  healing  every  dileafe  and 
diftemper  with  which  the  in- 
habitants of  that  country  were 
opprefTed. 

24  The  fame,  therefore, 
of  his  miraculous  cures  was 
foon  divulged  thro'  all  Syria, 
and  they  brought  to  him  from 
all  parts  fick  and  difeafcd  per- 
fons labouring  under  a  variety 


th^t  is,  recover  a  degenerate  world  from  vice  »nd  mifeiy 


Chap.  V.  hy   M.  AT 

of  the  moft  obflrinate  and  in- 
curable diftempers— "ven  of 
mad ",  lunatic,  and  paralytic 
cafes — and  he  inllantaneouny 
reftored  them  all  to  perfect 
cafe  and  health. 

25  And  vaft  crowds  fol- 
lowed him  out  of  Galilee, 
and  Decapolis,  and  Jerufa- 
Icm,  and  Judea,  and  out  of 
the  countries  beyond  the  Jor- 
dan. 

CHAP.    V. 

I  CEEING  fuch  a  nume- 
*^  rous  concourfe  of  peo- 
ple around  him,  he  afcend- 
cd  a  mountain,  and  fitting 
down,  his  difciplcs  colle6led 
themfelves  in  a  body  near  his 
perfon. 

2  He  then  with  great  fo- 
lemnity  inftru6ted  them  in  the 
dodirines  of  his  rehgion  in 
the  following  difcourfe : 

3  Happy  are  thofe  who  are 
endowed  with  true  humility 
r— for  fuch  are  properly  dif- 
pofed  for  the  reception  of  the 
gofpel. 

4  Happy  are  thofe  who 
lament  with  unfeigned  con- 
trition the  vices  and  errors  of 
their  paft  lives — -for  they  Ihall 
be  comforted  with  the  chear- 
ing  promifes  of  the  gofpel. 


T  H  E  w.  p 

5  Happy  are  thofe  who^ 
are  poffeffed  with  a  mild  and 
inoffenfive  difpofition  —  for 
they  fhall  be  enriched  with 
the  greateft  happinefs  this 
world  can  furnifh ". 

6  Happy  are  thofe  whofc 
minds  are  inflamed  with  a 
facred  ardour  to  attain  uni- 
verfal  virtue — their  enlarged 
and  generous  defires  Ihall  be 
fatisfied. 

7  Happy  are  thofe  who 
are  truly  campaflionate  and 
charitable — that  benevolence 
which  they  exprefs  towards 
their  fellow  creatures  fhall 
be  abundantly  recompenfed 
to  them. 

8  Happy  are  the  fincerely 
virtuous — they  (hall  be  ad-      ' 
mitted  to  the  blifsful  vifion 

of  God. 

9  Happy  are  thofe  who 
conftantly  ftudy  to  promote 
harmony  and  peace  among 
mankind — they  fhall  be  cal- 
led the  Sons  of  God. 

10  Happy  are  thofe  who 
fuffer  perfecution  for  Religion 
and  the  rights  of  confciencc 
with  inflexible  patience  and 
fortitude  — -  their  victorious 
conftancy  fliall  be  compen- 
fated  with  a  fuperior  degree 
of  future  bleflednefs. 


"  damoniat  and  mad  were  among  the  ]s.'^%  fynonymoys  terms  :  for  a 
proof  of  this  fee  John  x.  20.  he  is  pojfejftd  <voith  a  damon  and  is  mad, 

°  Inheriting  the  earth  feems  to  have  been  a  phrafe  among  the  jewj  de- 
jtoting  all  happinefs  in  general* 

II  Happy 


l-o  ne  HiHory 

1 1  Happy  are  you,  when 
for  your  unihaken  attaclv 
ment  to  my  religion  m"- 
Ihall  offer  you  every  inlul': 
and  indignity,  fliall  load  you 
with  odious  names  ana  inju- 
rious reproaches,  and  when 
their  implacable  virulence 
againft  yo-j  (hall  be  fucli  as 
fhall  prompt  them  knowing- 
ly to  violate  the  moil  facred 
truth  in  afperfing  your  mo- 
ral charaders  and  profef- 
fion. 

12  Amidft  fuch  perfccut- 
ing  rage  and  violence  inflead 
of  being  dejeded  and  dif- 
pirited,  exult  in  unbounded 
tranfportsof  joy  and  triumph, 
for  heaven  will  beftov/  a  glo- 
rious palm  upon  your  con- 
ftancy— -the  moll  eminent  of 
the  prophets  underwent  the 
fame  cruel  fufferings  and  per- 
fecutions  to  which  you  will 
be  fubjefted. 

13  You,  who  are  foon  to 
commence  the  public  teach- 
ers of  my  religion,  ought  to 
be  the  fait  of  the  earth  to 
preferve  it  from  corruption  : 
you  ought  therefore  to  excr- 
cife  the  greateft  vigilance  over 
your  moral  charaflers  and 
condu6l :  for  with  what  face 
can  you  reprove  men  for  their 
vices  if  you  are  guilty  of  the 
fame — you  will  lofe  your  ufe- 
fulnefs,  and  will  render  your- 
felves  the  moft  worthlefs  and 
defpicableofmen. 


of  Jesus  Chap.  v. 

14  You  I  IhallcomriniTjon 
ind  appoint  to  diffufc  the 
'igh;:  or  the  gofpei  amonr' 
iTi^nkind — upon  you  tbr-^-- 
fore  the  preachers  of  dil 
difpcnfation  th?  cye30i  ;/.  ri 
v.iil  be  fixed,  and  your  con- 
duct can  no  more  be  hid  from 
the  in'pcdion  of  men  than  ?. 
city  crededon  the  fummit  of 
an  hill. 

15  As  a  lamp  is  placed  on 
ibm.e  confpicuous  eminence 
that  all  the  houfe  may  enjoy 
its  ufcful  light, 

16  fo  in  like  manner  let 
your  examples  fliine  before 
men  with  that  pure  and  fa- 
cred luftre,  that  all  who  are 
v/itnefies  of  your  uaily  con- 
verfation,  feeing  the  genuine 
piety  and  integrity  of  your 
lives,  may  be  powerfully  ex- 
cited to  embrace  your  reli- 
gion and  glorify  your  hea- 
venly father. 

17  Do  not  think  that  the 
defign  of  my  coming  into  the 
world  is  to  abrogate  the  law 
of  Mofes,  and  the  prophets 
— I  am  only  come  to  fupply 
their  deficiencies,  and  to  p-ive 
mankind  a  more  complete 
and  perfect  fyftem  of  morals. 

1 8  For  I  tell  you  that  the 
precepts  of  morality  are  of 
eternal  and  immutable  obli- 
gation, and  their  power  and 
efficacy  fliall  never  be  relax- 
ed or  annulled,  while  the 
world  endures. 

19  Whofocver 


greateft 


Chap.  V.  -hy   Mat 

19  Whofoever,  therefore, 
fhaii  attempt,  in  his  public 
initrudLions  to  releafe  men 
from  theA'  oh.ligations  to  the 
mod  trivkl  branch  of  moral 
duty,  lofes  all  prctenfions  to 
the  charader  of  a  well  in- 
ftruded  chrilliar.  But  who- 
foever fhali  ilrenuoufly  incul- 
cate the  injundtions  of  mora- 
lity, and  his  life  be  an  orna- 
ment to  his  indrudlions,  this 
perfon  fhall  be  accounted  to 
have  reflected  the 
honour  upon  my  religion. 

20  For  I  afiure  you,  un- 
lefs  by  the  fuperiour  holinefs 
of  your  lives  you  do  greater 
honour  to  the  Chriftian,  than 
the  Scribes  and  Pharifees  do 
to  the  Jewifh,  religion,  you 
will  not  be  deemed  proper 
fubjeds  of  the  MelTiah's  king- 
dom. 

21  How  far  my  religion 
is  defigned  to  exalt  and  dis;- 
jiify  human  nature,  and  to 
advance  morality  to  a  purity 
and  fublimity  unknown  to 
former  difpenfations,  learn 
from  the  follov/ing  inftances 
— You  know  that  God  pro- 
hibited murder  to  the  antient 
Jews  under  pain  of  death. 


T  H  E  W. 


H 


22  But  I  fay  to  You  that 
whoever  Ihall  indulge  caufe-. 
leis  and  unprovoked  refent- 
ment  againft  his  chriftian  bro- 
ther, ftiall  be  puniihed  with 
a  feverity  fimilar  to  what  is 
infiifted  by  the  court  of  judg- 
ment — he  who  Ihail  luffer  his 
pafTions  to  tranfport  him  to 
greater  extravagancies,  fo  as 
to  make  his  chriftian  brother 
the  objed  of  derifion  and  con- 
tempt, ftiall  be  expofed  to  a 
punifhment  Jlill  feverer,  cor- 
refponding  to  what  the  cotin^ 
cil  impofeth  —  But  he  who 
fhall  load  his  fellow  chriftian 
with  odious  names  and  abu- 
five  language,  fhall  incur  the 
fevereft  degree  of  all  punifli- 
ments,  adequate  to  that  of 
being  burnt  alive  in  the  val- 
ley of  Hinnom  p. 

23  For  fuch  is  the  amiable 
temper  and  difpofition  I  would 
have  my  followers  to  culti- 
vate, that  if  any  of  you  are 
going  immediately  to  per- 
form an  ad  of  religious  wor- 
fnip,  and  happen,  juft  before 
the  time,  to  recoiled  that 
you  have  offended  your  bro- 
ther by  fome  part  of  your 
condud  towards  him ; 


P  The  jicdg}nent  and  council  were  courts  of  judicature  among  the  Jews. 
The  judgment  took  cognifance  of  common  petty  cafes,  and  could  infliti 
but  flight  punilhments.  The  council  was  a  more  auguft  and  venerable 
court,  and  inflifted  greater.  By  images  taken  from  thefe  Jewilh  courts 
are  the  different  degrees  of  future  punifhment  reprefented.  The  judgment 
denotes  the  loweft  degree  :  the  council  an  higher  :  the  valley  ofHin?io?n  the 
highell.    See  Lamy  introd.  biblic.  Vol.  i.  p.  270. 

24  hefitatc 


12  ^he  Hiftory 

24  hcfitatc  not  a  moment 
—  leave  your  public  devo- 
tions unperformed  —  fly  to 
thy  brother  —  be  reconciled 
to  him — let  all  differences  be 
compofed,  and  mutual  har- 
mony be  perfe(5lly  reftored, 
and  then  approach  God's 
houfe — other  wife  all  thy  fo- 
lemn  public  addrefies  to  him 
will  be  repulfed. 

25  The  confequences  of 
mens  violent  refentments,  if 
not  prevented  in  their  firfl 
rife,  are  often  dreadful  and 
deplorable.  Endeavour  there- 
fore, by  the  moft  mild  and 
conciliating  manners  to  fof- 
ten  and  allay  the  fury  of  an 
adverfary,  before  he  proceed 
to  the  moft  unhappy  extre- 
mities. 

26  If  thou  art  too  proud 
to  make  any  concefTions,  and 
forbeareft  to  foften  his  anger 
by  lenity  and  condeicenfion, 
he  will  inflid:  upon  you  that 
miiery,  which  by  an  early 
reconciliation  you  might  have 
prevented — but  from  which 
you  will  not  efcape,  'till  you 
have  fully  glutted  his  re- 
venge. 

§ — ^27  You  know  the  law 
prohibits  adultery : 

28  But  1  tell  you,  that 
whoever  looks  upon  a  wo- 
man with  libidinous  thoughts 
and  defires,  tho'  his  inclina- 
tions are  not  produced  into 
open  adlions,  is  in  his  mind 


of  Jesus  Chap.  v. 

guilty  of  the  crime  of  adul- 
tery : 

29  For  fuch  is  the  chaftity 
and  purity,  whi^c/j  "Lhe  chrif- 
tian  law  indifpenfibly  re- 
quires, that  every  carnal  ap- 
petite, which  gratified  would 
lead  men  to  fm  and  everlaft- 
ing  perdition,  muft  be  fub- 
dued,  with  whatever  reluc* 
tance  it  is  done. 

30  Every  vice,  therefore, 
to  which  a  man  hath  long 
been  habituated,  and  for 
which  by  repeated  indul- 
gence he  hath  contradted  the 
ftrongeft  inclinations,  muft 
be  eradicated  from  the  mind, 
tho'theexpulfion  ofitfhould 
be  with  the  fame  torture  and 
regret  that  the  cutting  out  an 
eye,  or  the  taking  off  an 
hand,  would  occafion. 

:^i  On  feveral  accounts  you 
know  alfo  that  the  law  per- 
mitted divorces. 

32  But  I  fay  unto  you,  that 
whofoever  Ihall  repudiate  his 
wife,  except  for  adultery,  is 
highly  criminal,  in  both  cauf- 
ing  her,  whom  he  hath  thus 
difmiiTed,  and  him,  who 
may  afterwards  marry  her,  ta 
be  guilty  of  adultery. 

§ — 33  Again,  the  law 
deterred  men  froait  perjury 
by  declaring  the  indilpenf^- 
ble  obligation  of  thofe  oaths, 
for  the  performance  of  which 
they  had  Iblemnly  appealed 
to  God. 

34  But 


A  T  T  H  £  W. 


Chap.  V.  ^   M 

34  But  I  command  you  to 
refrain  from  ail  oaths  what- 
foever — to  make  no  dire<fl 
appeals  to  heaven^  fmce  that 
is  in  effed  invoking  God  to 
be  Vitnefs  of  your  appeals — 
fince  heaven  is  his  throne. 

'^S  Neither  fwear  by  the 
earth,  fince  /^/j  is  fwearing 
by  his  footftool  —  nor  by  Je- 
rufalem,  fince  this  likewife  is 
fwearing  by  him  who  hath 
fixed  his  temple  and  worfhip 
there. 

36  Neither  fwear  by  thine 
head,  for  this  is  alio  an  indi- 
reft  appeal  to  the  great  Crea- 
tour,  whofe  original  efta- 
blillied  laws  thy  will  and 
power  cannot  alter  in  the 
leaft  inftance — in  even  chang- 
ing a  fingle  hair  of  thine  head 
into  white  or  black. 

37  But  let  your  converfa- 
tion  be  conducted  with  the 
greateft  plainnefs  and  inno- 
cence— ufing  only  a  fimple 
affirmation,  or  denial — for 
all  fuperfluous  afleverations 
are  neither  innocent,  nor  flow 
from  a  good  principle. 

§ — 38  The  law  likewife 
gave  a  fandion  to  the  reta- 
liation of  evil,  and  awarded, 
That  he  who  had  inflidled 
any  injury  upon  the  perfon 
of  another,  {hould  fuffer  the 
fame  injury  in  his  own. 

39  But  the  golpel  is  de- 

<  Sylla'8  Epitaph  was  this.     Oyr?  twc  otKuv  ti<  avrctv  «u  Toiav,  ovrt 
rm  ix^f;uy  najt*-?,  viTsp«C<tA«T8.   Plutarch.  Sylla.  p.  87c.  Ed.  Steph.  Gr. 

44  But 


»3 

figned  to  harmonize  mens 
tempers  and  difpofitions,  to 
endow  them  with  a  different 
fpirit,  and  to  teach  them  ra- 
ther to  fubmit  to  injurious 
treatment,  than  requite  it  by 
revenge. 

40  Chriftianity  alfo  re- 
quires you  rather  to  recede 
from  your  right  in  fmall  mat- 
ters than  contend  for  it  in 
litigious  and  quarrelfome  law- 
I'uits. 

41  And  whofoever  (hall 
compel  you  by  threats  or 
violence  to  carry  a  burden 
for  him  a  mile,  rather  fub- 
mit to  his  unreafonable  de- 
mands and  go  two,  than  fuf- 
fer  yourfelves  to  be  tranfpor- 
ted  into  a  fit  of  vehement 
paffion  and  rage,  and  by  fury 
and  violence  difhonour  the 
genuine  principles  of  your 
religion. 

42  Cherifli  the  kindefi:  af- 
fe6tions  towards  your  fellow 
creatures  —  refufe  not  your 
charity  and  affiftance  to  thole 
who  folicit  it  from  you,  and 
be  not  unwilling  to  lend  to 
thofe,  who  are  under  a  ne- 
ceiTity  of  borrowing. 

§ — 43  Finally,  the  la\T 
inculcated  upon  men  the  love 
of  their  neighbours,  but  al- 
lowed them  to  hate  their  ene- 
mies "'. 


14  The  Hiflory 

44  But  the  Chriftian  reli- 
gion infills  upon  a  different 
temper  and  conduct,  and  re- 
quires its  profefTors  to  love 
their  enemies — to  fpeak  well 
of  thofe,  who  load  us  with 
execrations — to  do  friendly- 
offices  to  thofe,  who  difcover 
the  greateft  malevolence  to- 
wards us,  and  to  return  the 
calumnies  and  abufe  of  thofe, 
who  injurioufly  afperfe  and 
perfecute  us,  with  prayer. 

45  By  the  culture  of  thefe 
benevolent  principles  which 
my  religion  enjoins,  you  will, 
inthehigheft  degree,  of  v/hich 
your  natures  are  capable,  af- 
fimilate  yourfelves  to  the  Di- 
vine character,  who  makes  his 
fun  to  rife,  and  his  rain  to 
fall,  upon  good  and  bad,  with- 
out diftindtion. 

46  For  where  is  your  me- 
rit in  loving  thofe,  whom 
you  are  perfuaded  will  re- 
turn your  love  ?  — Perlons  of 
the  moft  abandoned  cha- 
radbers  adl  In  this  manner. 

47  And  what  fuperiour  vir- 
tue do  you  difplay  in  lavifli- 
ing  your  benevolence  only 
upon  your  friends  ? — This  is 
no  more  than  what  even  the 
moft  profligate  wretches  do. 

48  Bucit  is  incumbent  upon 
you  to  rife  to  higher  and  no- 
bler attainments  in  all  moral 
excellence,  and  to  make  the 
perfe(5t  charafter  of  the  Deity 
the  object  of  your  imitation, 


of  Jesus  Chap.  vi. 

conitantly  endeavouring  to 
acquire  as  near  a  refemblance 
to  his  confummate  benevo- 
lence and  goodnefs,  as  the 
imperfeflion  of  your  natures 
will  admit. 

CHAP.    VI. 

I  T  N  the  diftribution  of 
A  charity  fhun  all  often- 
tation — for  if  your  benefi- 
cence be  founded  in  nothing 
better  than  a  defire  to  attraft 
the  notice  of  mankind,  it  will 
not  be  rewarded  by  your 
heavenly  father. 

2  When  you  therefore  re- 
lieve perfons  in  diitrefs,  do 
not  imitate  the  vain  parade, 
which  hypocrites  ufually  af- 
fed,  in  ordering  a  trumpeter 
to  walk  before  them,  and  to 
make  a  proclamation  in  theo- 
pen  ftreets  and  in  places  of  re- 
ligious worfhip,  that  you  arc 
going  to  give  away  fuch  a 
fum  in  publick  charity — fuch 
a  conduft  may  gain  the  ap- 
plaule  of  men,  which  is  its 
great  and  fole  objeft,  but  the 
approbation  of  God  it  will 
never  fecure. 

3  But  let  thy  charity  be 
given  in  filence  and  fecrefy, 
and  thy  left  hand  be  a  ftran- 
ger  to  the  kindnefs  that  thy 
right  hand  is  difpcnfing. 

4  For  tho'  thy  liberality 
efcapes  the  notice  of  men, 
yet  an  omnifcient  God  is  a 

witnefs 


Chap.  vi.  ^   M  A  T 

witnefs  of  it :  and  thofe  ads 
of  Gompaffion,  which  thou 
concealeft  from  the  world, 
will  one  day  be  proclaimed 
in  the  moft  public  manner. 

§ — 5  In  your  addrefles  to 
God  guard  againft  thofe  often- 
tatious  airs  of  devotion  which 
hypocrites  afTumc  in  „order 
to  be  admired  as  niirrours  of 
heavenly-Diindednefs ;  ftand- 
ing  up  and  praying  in  the 
moft  confpicuous  places  in  the 
iynagogues,  and  uttering  loud 
ftrains  of  an  affedled  piety  at 
the  corners  of  crowded  ftreets, 
merely  to  attradt  mens  atten- 
tion —  The  gratification  of 
their  vanity  from  a  deluded 
multitude  fhall  be  the  only 
reward  they  fhall  receive. 

6  But  when  thou  prayeft, 
withdraw  from  the  view  of 
the  world — fhut  thyfelf  up 
in  privacy  and  filence — and 
with  a  devout  heart  and  fer- 
vent affc(5tions  pour  out  thy 
devotions  to  that  Being  who 
is  prefent  with  thee  in  all  thy 
retirements,  and.  who  will  at 
the  general  refurreflion  pub- 
lickly  reward  the  filcnt  fin- 
cerity  of  thy  undifTembied 
piety. 

7  Think  not  the  defign 
of  prayer  is  by  the  dint  of 
importunity  to  teaze  the 
Deity  into  a  compliance  with 
our  requefts — Carefully  avoid 
therefore  the  errour  of  the 
heathens  who  think  that  the 


T  H  E  w.  1^ 

fupreme  Being  can  be  pre- 
vailed upon  by  enthufiaftic 
clamours,  and  a  conftant 
unvaried  repetition  of  noify 
expreflions. 

8  Imitate  not  in  the  ex* 
ercifcs  of  devotion,  a  con- 
dud  fo  erroneous  and  ab- 
furd :  for  the  indulgent  Pa- 
rent of  mankind  perfectly 
knows  your  liate  and  con- 
dition, and  the  bleffings  that 
will  be  moft  proper  for  you 
before  you  folici:  him  to  be- 
ftow  them. 

9  In  order  to  guard  you 
from  miftakes  in  this  impor- 
tant concern  I  will  propofe  the 
following  as  a  model  for  your 
devotions  —  O  Thou  great 
governour  and  parent  of  uni- 
verfal  nature — who  manifeft- 
eft  thy  glory  to  the  bleffed  in- 
habitants of  heaven — may  all 
thy  rational  creatures  in  all 
the  parts  of  thy  boundlefs 
dominion  be  happy  in  the 
knowledge  of  thy  exiftence 
and  providence,  and  cele- 
brate thy  perfections  in  a 
manner  moft  worthy  thy  na- 
ture and  perfedtive  of  their 
own! 

10  May  the  glory  of  thy 
moral  government  be  ad- 
vanced, and  the  great  laws 
of  it  be  more  generally  obey- 
ed— May  the  inhabitants  of 
this  world  pay  as  chearful  a 
fubmuTion  and  as  conftant  an 
obedience  to  thy  will,  as  the 

happy 


1 6  iTAf  Hiftofy 

happy  fpirits  do  in  the  regi- 
ons of  immortality — 

1 1  As  thou  haft  hitherto 
moft  mercifully  fupplied  our 
wants,  deny  us  not  the  ne- 
ccfTaries  and  conveniences  of 
life,  while  thou  art  pleafed 
to  continue  us  in  it  '— 

12  Pardon  the  numerous 
crrours  and  fins,  which  we 
have  been  guilty  of  towards 
thee;  as  we  freely  forgive 
and  erafe  from  our  hearts  the 
injuries  that  our  fellow  crea- 
tures have  done  to  us — 

13  Suffer  no  temptation 
to  affault  us  too  powerful  for 
the  frailty  of  our  natures  and 
the  imperfeflion  of  our  vir- 
tue— but  in  all  our  trials  may 
thine  almighty  aid  interpofe 
and  refcue  us  from  vice  and 
ruin — Thefe  requefts  we  ad- 
drefs  unto  thee,  for  thou  art 
pofiefTed  of  power  which 
enables  thee  to  fuccour,  and 
of  goodnefs,  which  difpofes 
thee  to  befriend  all  thy  crea- 
tures— and  thefe  thy  glorious 
perfedlions  will  continue  im- 
mutable, and  be  the  ob- 
je(5ls  of  praife  and  adoration 
throughout  all  the  ages  of 
eternity !  Amen ! 

14  Obferve,  that  in  this 
prayer  I  make  your  forgive- 

'  ET/air/ov  AfTov  fignifies  common  neceffarics  through  fubftqutnt  life- 
FT/80-B5  n/ASe^f  the  fubfequent  day,  Plutarch  Cato  Jun.  p.  145 1  Edit. 
Steph.  and  A«5\s  vii.  26.  We  learn  from  Ariltophanes  that  it  was  cuf- 
tomary  for  the  Athenian  ladies  to  fwear,  vwmv  <i'7ny.<j<Lv  w/t/jpay.  Ariltoph. 
\.n.ii.M9*  p*  690.  Edit.  Amftsl.  i6;o,  &  Fabcr  in  loc. 

iS  Studying 


of  Jesus         Chap.  vL 

nefs  of  others  the  condition 
of  the  divine  forgivenefs  :  fof 
if  you  pardon  the  crimes  and 
offences  of  your  fellow  crea- 
tures, the  divine  mercy  will 
forgive  you. 

15  But  if  you  addrefs  God 
with  a  mind  full  of  irrecon- 
cileabie  enmity  againft  youf 
brethren  for  the  faults  and 
foibles  they  have  been  guilty 
of  towards  you,  the  prayers 
you  offer  will  in  like  manner 
be  repulfcd,  and  God  will 
not  pardon  the  crimes  you 
have  committed  againft  him* 
§ —  1 6  Wh  E  N  you  keep  a  re- 
ligiousfaft,  guard  againft  that 
affefted  gloom  and  melancholy 
which  hypocrites  affume  on 
liich  an  occafion  —  for  they 
diftort  and  charge  their  fea- 
tures with  folemn  and  fan£li- 
monious  grimace,  that  men 
may  be  ftruck  with  admi- 
ration at  the  religious  aufte- 
rities  they  praftife — But  be 
affured  that  the  praife  of  men 
(hall  be  the  only  reward  they 
ftiall  acquire. 

1 7  On  the  contrary,  when 
you  faft,  ftudy  no  Angulari- 
ties of  look  and  gait,  but  ap« 
pear  among  men  in  your  ufu* 
al  drefs  and  chearfulnefs. 


VI. 


*"   Mat 


i?y 


Chap, 

1 8  Studying  to  recom- 
inend  yourlelves  not  to  men 
but  to  God,  before  whofe 
eye  all  the  receffes  of  the  foul 
are  open,  and  who  will  pub- 
licity reward  fincere  virtue, 
tho'  exercilcd  in  the  moft:  ob- 
fcure  retreat. 

§ — 19  My  religion  is  de- 
ligned  to  raife  mens  affedlions 
to  higher  and  nobler  objects 
than  this  v/orld  furniihes. 
Strive  not,  therefore,  with 
infinite  care  and  anxiety  to 
accumulate  immenfe  treaiures 
of  earthly  riches,  which  are 
perpetually  liable  to  many 
accidents,  and  which  are  in 
their  nature  tranfitory  and 
perifhing. 

20  But  let  it  be  your  prin- 
cipal concern  to  acquire  ce- 
leftial  riches — which  no  cala- 
mities can  polTibly  injure,  or 
eternity  itfelf  ever  exhauft. 

2 1  It  is  of  the  greateft  im- 
portance that  your  affedlions 
be  properly  placed,  for  the 
mind  is  foon  governed  by  its 
predominant  inclinations,  and 
where  the  treafure  is,  there 
the  heart  is  centered. 

22  ileafon  is  to  the  foul, 
what  the  eye  is  to  the  body 
■—If  thy  reafon  be  preferved 
ftrong  and  clear,  thy  moral 
difpofitions  will  be  maintain- 
ed in  their  proper  harmony 
and  order. 

23  But  if  the  eye  of  reafon 
be  fufFufed  with  prejudice,  or 
injured  by  vice,  all  thine  in- 

VoL.L 


T  H  E  Wi  \*f 

telledual  powers  Will  be  lofl 
in  the  fhades  of  errour.  Should 
thy  reafon  itfelf,  therefore,  be 
thus  obfcured,  in  what  dread* 
ful  darknefs  muft  thy  v/hole 
mind  be  involved  ! 

24  As  it  is  impofTible  fof 
a  fervant  to  love  two  maflera 
of  quite  different  difpofitions 
and  tempers  with  equal  af- 
fcftion,  for  one  will  necelTa- 
rily  be  the  obje6t  of  his  eP 
teem  and  regard,  and  the 
other  of  his  averfion  and  con- 
tempt—fo  no  perfon  can  at  the 
fame  time  be  a  truly  religious 
and  good  chriftian,  while  his 
heart  is  en  (laved  to  fordid  ava- 
rice and  worldly-mindednefs. 

25  I  command  you,  there-* 
fore,  to  fupprefs  all  immo^ 
derate  defires  of  earthly  plea^ 
fures  and  indulgencies,  and 
not  to  be  foiiicitous  and  un- 
eafy   how    you    (hall   gratify 

your   appetites what    re- 

pafts  will  give  you  the  moft 

pleafure  — '■ what    liquors 

the  moft  exquifite  fenfationa 

— and  what  apparel  will  add 

the 

to  your  p 

life  of  infinitely  greater  worth 

than  all  the   refinements   of 

luxury,   and  a  good  confti- 

tution  of  unfpeakable  greater 

value  than  the  moft  fumptu- 

ous  robes ! 

26  Contemplate  the  fowls 
— they  have  no  fields  to  fow, 
no  crops  to  reap,  no  barns 
to  fill — and  yet  the  great  pa- 

'C  rent 


moft  elegance  and  grace 
rfons — For  is  not 


J  8  Tac  Hiflory 

rent  of  nature  fupplics  them 
with  load — Since  then  the 
fowls  make  no  anxious  pro- 
vifion  for  themfelves,  ought 
yCj  v/hom  God  hath  formec 
rational  and  intelligent  be- 
ini^s,  to  debate  the  fuperiour 
dignity  of  your  nature  by  a 
reitiefs  palTion  for  fenfual  en- 
joyments ? 

27  Such  anxiety  is  as  ab- 
furd  as  it  is  impious — for  by 
the  exertion  of  all  your  care 
you  cannot  add  a  moment  to 
the  original  period  alTigned 
to  human  life'. 

28  Survey  with  attention 
the  lillies  of  the  field,  and 
learn  from  them  how  unbe- 
coming it  is  for  rational 
creatures  to  chcrifh  a  folici- 
tous  pafilon  for  gaiety  and 
drefs — for  they  fuilain  no  la- 
bour, they  employ  no  cares 
to  adorn  themlclves  ; 

29  and  yet  are  cloathed 
with  fuch  inimitable  beauty, 
as  thcrichefl  monarch,  in  the 
richelf  drefs,  never  equalled. 

30  Since  then  God  lavilhcs 
fuch  a  variety  of  ftriking  co- 
lours upon  a  tranficnt,  Ihort- 
livcd  flower  •,  ought  yc,  who 
are  creatures  fo  highly  exalt- 
ed in  the  fcale  of  being,  to 
diflrufl:  divine  providence  ? 

3 1  Cherifh  not,  therefore, 
fuch  uncafy  thoughts  as  thefe 


of  Jesus         Chap.  vii. 

What  fhall  I  eat !    what 

Ihall   I  drink  !  what   fhall  I 
wear ! 

32  Thefe  are  enquiries, 
that  are  perpetually  corrod- 
ing the  minds  of  Heathens^ 
but  ought  not  to  prey 
upon  Your  happinefs,  fnice 
God  knows  that  you  require 
the  common  comforts  and 
neceflaries  of  hfe,  but  expects 
you,  under  the  gofpely  to 
afpire  after  nobler  purfaits. 

33  For  let  it  be  your  prhi- 
cipal  ftudy  and  concern  to 
approve  yourfelves  the  vir- 
tuous fubjeds  of  God's  mo- 
ral government — and  his  pro- 
vidence will  not  be  wanting 
to  fupply  you  with  the  other 
inferiour  bleflings  that  refpedt 
the  body. 

34  Brood  not,  therefore, 
over  futurity  with  anxious 
Jcfponding  thoughts.  Let 
futurity  take  care  of  itlelf — 
the  miferies  of  the  prefent 
day  are  enough  without  our 
adding  to  them  by  anticipat- 
ing evils  that  arc  future. 

C  II  A  P    VII. 

I   T>  E  not  prone  to  cenfur^ 
JL'    others,  left  you  pro- 
voke God  to  judge  you  with 
the  like  fevcrity. 

2  For   the  fame  meafures 


*  To/<  /xiV'/j  T>i^,  viovfrt  yjo'iv  dLvBiaiv  nCnt  TipTO/xiQ:^. 
afud  EMyiux  inc.  Edit.  Oxou.  p.  J{. 


Mimjiernu; 

that 


Cliap.  vli.  fy 

that  you  keep  in  your  treat- 
ment of  others,  the  lame  mea- 
lures  will  God,  at  the  lair 
day,  ftridly  obferve  in  his 
condu(5l  towards  you  —  for 
according  as  you  judge  men 
with  lenity  or  cruelty,  fo  will 
fupreme  juftice  retaliate  it 
with  like  mercy  or  rigour. 

3  Why  is  thine  eye  fixed 
upon  thy  brother's  conduct 
with  a  penetration,  that  the 
flighted  fault  and  foible  can- 
not efcape — while  at  the  fame 
time  thou  thyfelf  art  guilty 
of  moll  heinous  enormities  ? 

4  With  what  face  canft 
thou  reprove,  and  exhort 
others  to  reformation  and 
amendment,  when  thine  own 
life  is  a  notorious  fatyr  upon 
thine  inftrudions  ? 

5  Firft  leave  off,  hypocrite, 
thy  Ihameful  courfes  —  and 
then  gravely  remonftrate  a- 
gainll  the  venial  imperfec- 
tions of  thy  neighbours. 

6  Let  your  admonitions  be 
ever  dictated  by  prudence — 
for  to  rebuke  thofe,  whom 
you  have  reafon  to  believe  are 
obftinate  and  incorrigible,  is 
unneceffarily  expofing  your 
perfon  to  infult,  and  your  in- 
ftrudions  to  contempt  ^ 

7  Thefe  are  the  duties  wh'ch 
the  gofpel  requires  of  you, 


M  A  T  T  H  E  W.  19 

but  in  order  to  the  difcharge 
of  them  invoke  divine  3.irif- 
tance — which  will  not  be'  de- 
nied to  your  fincere  and  vir- 
tuous endeavours  to  obtain 
it. 

8  For  the  fervent  prayers 
of  every  good  perfon  to  the 
father  of  wiiciom  to  aid  and 
ftrengthen  his  imperfect  vir- 
tue will  nor  be  rejeded. 

9  Learn  from  parental 
tcndernefs  the  indujgent  dif- 
pofition  of  the  fupreme  father 
towards  his  dependent  crea- 
tures— For  is  there  any  man, 
however  abandoned  and  de- 
praved, who,  when  his  fon 
afks  him  for  the  neceffaries 
of  life,  will  give  him  fome- 
thing  that  is  ufelefs  or  hurt- 
ful ?  for  example,  when  his 
child  cries  for  bread,  will  give 
him  a  ftone, 

10  or  a  ferpcnt — when  he 
defires  a  fiOi. 

11  If,  therefore,  parents 
of  the  very  word  charadters 
give  to  their  children  what  is 
proper  and  uleful  for  them 
— how  much  more  will  the 
mod  kind  and  compaffionate 
Father  of  all,  impart  fuitable 
favours  and  bleflings  to  his 
fupplicants. 

1 2  In  fine,  make  the  con- 
dition of  your   fellow   crea* 


*  Qui  pretium  meriti  ab  improt)is  defiderat, 
Bis  peccat;  primum  quoniam  indignos  adjuvat, 
Zmpune  abire  deinde  ijuia  jam  non  poteft. 

i»/^W.  Fa6,  Lib.  I.  Fab.  8« 

C  2  tures 


20  The  Hiftory 

turcs  your  own, — and  behave 
to  others  in  the  fame  manner, 
as  you  would  expe6b,  if  you 
were  in  their  circumftances, 
and  they  in  yours — In  this 
one  moral  maxim  is  virtually 
comprehended  the  whole  fyf- 
tem  of  duty  in  the  law  and 
the  prophets. 

§• 13  Enter  into  the 

flrait  gate  of  virtue  and  chrif- 
tianity — for  the  gate  is  wide, 
and  the  road  Ipacious  and 
eafy  that  conduds  to  perdi- 
tion— and  the  generality  of 
mankind  travel  it. 

14  For  the  gate  is  narrow, 
and  the  road  rough  and  diffi 
cult  that  leads  to  the  gofpel 

and  to  life  " and  fuch  is 

the  degeneracy  of  Jews  and 
Gentiles,  that  there  are  but 
few  who  will  difcover  it. 

§ — \c^  Be  ever  cautious  of 
being  deluded  by  falle  teach- 
ers, who  will  pradlife  every 
art  to  impofe  upon  you,  and 
alfume  the  harmlefs  inno- 
cence of  the  lamb  to  cover 
the  inward  treachery  and  ra- 
pacity of  the  wolf. 

16  But  the  infallible  crite- 
rion of  their  chara6lers  is  this 
— Infpeft  their  lives  and  ani- 
ons, and  you  cannot  be  de- 
ceived. The  fruit  difcovers 
the  true  nature  of  the  tree. 
Thorns  produce  not  the  ge- 


of  Jesus         Chap.  vii. 

nerous   grape the  thillle 

bears  not  the  lufcious  fig. 

1 7  A  good  tree  bears  good 
fruit — a  bad  tree,  bad  fruit. 

1 8  In  the  fame  manner,  a 
good  heart  produces  good 
actions — a  bad  heart,  wick- 
ednefs. 

19  And  as  the  tree  that 
bears  worthlefs  fruit,  how- 
ever fair  its  form  and  beau- 
tiful its  leaves,  is  cut  down 

and  burnt, fuch  will  be 

the  fatal  deftruftion  to  which 
God  will  confign  the  fpecious 
hypocrite  and  incorrigible 
finner. 

20  So  that  a  man's  a6tions 
are  the  true  index  of  his  heart, 
and  the  fole  infallible  teft  of 
the  goodnefs,  or  badnefs  of 
it. 

21  It  is  not  an  outward 
profeffion  of  the  chriflian  re- 
ligion that  will  entitle  men  to 
future  happinefs,  but  a  fm- 
cere  obedience  to  the  divine 
will,  and  an  uniformly  pious 
and  virtuous  condu6l. 

22  Many  at  the  day  of 
judgment  will  thus  addrefs 
me — Lord !  did  we  not  em- 
brace thy  religion — did  we 
not  preach  and  inftrudl  others 
in  the  doiflrines  and  duties  of 

it did  we  not  in   confe- , 

quence  of  our  profefllon,  per- 
form   the    moll   ftupendous 


«  I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life. 
fponds  to  perdition  in  the  verfe  before. 


Life  in  this  ycrfc  corre- 

cnlracles. 


Chap.  viii.         by  Mat 

miracles,  and  work  the  moft 
aftonilhing  cures.  Are  we 
not,  therefore,  thy  true  dil- 
ciples — and  wilt  not  thou  be- 
llow upon  us  thofe  bleffed 
rewards  thou  art  now  going 
to  difpenfe  ? 

23  But  to    thefe   I    will 

reply Notwithftanding 

your  former  perfuafion  of  the 
truth  of  my  religion,  and  the 
zeal  you  have  fhowed  in  af- 
ferting  and  vindicating  its 
dodtrines — yet  you  have  dif- 
graced  it  by  an  immoral  life. 
Such  as  you  I  will  never  ap- 
prove as  my  genuine  difci- 
ples Ye  fintul  and  aban- 
doned creatures  depart ! 

24  Thefe  are  the  religious 
and  moral  inftrudions  of  my 
gofpel — whofoever,  therefore, 
iliall  cordially  embrace  and 
pra6life  them,  may  be  com- 
pared to  a  prudent  and  intel- 
ligent perlon,  who  built  his 
houfe  upon  a  rock  : 

25  which,  when  aflaulted 
by  the  raging  tempeft,  the 
impetuous  torrent,  or  the  fu- 
rious whirlwind,  fuftains  the 
fliock — for  it  is  founded  on 
the  unfhaken  bafis  of  a  rock. 

26  But  him,  who  is  per- 
fuaded  of  the  truth  of  chrif- 
tianity,  and  yet  lives  in  the 
open  pradice  of  the  vices  it 
condemns,  I  will  compare  to 
a  fooHili  mian,  who  builds  an 
houfe  upon  the  fand. 

27  So  that  whenever  the 


T  H  E  w. 


21 


ftorms  rage,  or  the  floods 
rulh,  or  the  blafts  affail  "t-,  it 
finks,  and  falls  in  moft  dread- 
ful ruins. 

§ — 28  Here  Jefus  ended 
his  difcourfe — and  the  multi- 
tude ftood  fixed  with  admira- 
tion at  the  fublimity  of  his 
dodrines : 

29  for  thefe  inftrudions 
were  delivered  not  in  the 
cold  and  negligent  manner 
of  the  Scribes — but  with  a 
dignity  and  authority  that 
Ipoke  their  divine  original. 

CHAP.   VIII. 

FTER  this  difcourfe 
he  defcended  from 
the  niountain — and  was  re- 
ceived and  followed  by  pro- 
digious  crowds. 

2  When  behold  a  wretched 
fpedlacle  —  a  perfon  cover- 
ed with  leprofy  approached, 
and  falling  proftrate  before 
him,  faid.  Sir,  you  have 
power  to  free  me  from  this 
{hocking  difeafe. 

3  Jefus  then  extending  his 
hand  touched  him,  faying — 
I  will  reflore  thee  to  health — 
and  inilantly  the  leprous  fcurf 
no  was  more. 

4  Jefus  then  fl:ri6lly  charged 
the  man  by  no  means  to  di- 
vulge his  miraculous  cure, 
but  to  go  immediately  to  the 
prieft,  and  off^er  the  ufuai  fa- 
crifice  •,  in  order  that  the  man 
C  3  might 


22  The  Hiftory 

might  give  publick  and  in- 
conteltable  evidence  of  his 
being  really  and  perfe<5liy 
cured. 

§ — 5  When  Jefus  had 
juft  eniered  Capernaum,  a 
Roman  captain  came  to  him, 
and  accofted  him  in  thefe  im- 
portunate terms, 

6  Sir,  my  fervant  hath  juft 
had  a  flroke  of  the  pnlfy,  and 
is  now  in  my  houie  in  the 
mod  excruciating  tcrture, 

7  I  will  immediately  come, 
replied  Jefus,  and  heal  him. 

8  Upon  hearing  this  an- 
fwer,  the  officer  with  great 
humility  faid,  Sir,  I  deem 
jnyfelf  unworthy  that  a  per- 
fon  of  your  illuftrious  dignity 
{hould  come  under  my  roof 
— one  word,  I  am  perfuaded, 
of  your  authoritative  voice 
will  fpeak  my  fervant  into 
perfeft  eafe  and  health. 

9  For  if  I,  who  command 
a  body  of  men  in  the  Roman 
army,  can,  by  a  word,  order 
my  corps  to  any  fervice,  and 
my  orders  are  immediately 
obeyed  "^ — how  much  more 
muft  you,  whom  I  believe  to 
beinvefbed  with  divine powei-, 
by  a  word  efFedl  my  fervant's 
cure. 

ID  Jefus  exprefled  amaze- 
ment at  hearing  fuch  a  reply, 


cf  Jesus       Chap.  viif. 

and  turning  to  his  followers 
faid — This  Heathen  hath  done 
more  honour  to  the  dignity  of 
my  miflion  and  character  than 
any  of  the  IfraeJites. 

1 1  But  I  aflure  you  that 
great  numbers  of  the  Heathen 
nations,  in  the  moil  diftant 
regions,  fhall  embrace  the 
gofpel,  which  the  Je-zL's  re- 
jeft,  and  fhall  be  incorporat- 
ed into  thatkino-dom,  whofe 
eftablifliment  they  now  fo 
violently  oppofe. 

12  But  they,  to  whom 
thefe  advantages  are  firft  of- 

o 

fered,  fhall  on  account  of 
their  incxcufablc  incredulity 
and  enormous  vices  be  eject- 
ed from  the  bJefllngs  of  chrif- 
tianity,  and  the  whole  na- 
tion be  doomed  to  the 
moil  dreadful  calamities,  that 
ever  befei  a  people  and  coun- 
try''. 

13  Jefus  then  turned  to 
the  officer  and  told  him  that 
the  divine  power,  with  which 
he  believed  hitn  to  be  en- 
dowed, was  already  exerted 
in  the  recovery  of  his  fervant 

and  at  that  very  inflant 


he  found   liimielf  in  perfect 
health. 

§ — 14  Jesus  afterwards  re- 
tiring from  the  crowd  went 
into  Peter's  houfe,  arid  found 


*'  Agmen  et  ftare  paratum  et  fequi  :  —  intentum  ad  ducis  non  ftgnu7tt 
Hiodo,   fed  etiam  ttutum.     Curtius,  p.  ho.  Delph. 

'  He  rtiizrz  to  the  deftruflion  cf  jcrufalem  by  the  Roi::in.ns. 

his 


Chap.  vlli.  by    M  AT 

his  mother  in  law  confined 
to  her  bed  by  a  violent  fe- 
ver. 

15  But  he  touched  her 
hand — the  fever  left  her — fhe 
rofe  and  provided  for  their 
refrefhment. 

1 6  In  the  evening  the  crowds 
collected  again,  and  brought 
him  many  afflicted  with  mad- 
nefs  —  but  this  and  every  o- 
ther  diftemper  he  inftantane- 
oufiy  removed  by  a  word. 

17  By  thefe  miraculous 
cures  accomplifhing  the  fol- 
lowing prediction  of  the  pro- 
phet Ilaiah  concerning  him 
— "  Our  maladies  he  healed, 
and  expelled  all  the  difeafes, 
with  which  our  natures  wTre 
opprefied." 

§ — 18  But  when  Jefus 
found  himfelf  greatly  incom- 
moded by  the  preffing crowds, 
he  ordered  his  difciplcs  to 
get  a  boat  and  ferry  him 
over  the  lake. 

1 9  While  the  boat  was  pre- 
paring, a  fcribe  approached 
him,  who  deluded  with  the 
hopes  of  gaining  preferment 
in  his  kingdom,  thus  addref 
fed  him,  '*  Great  teacher !  I 
am  determined  to  attend  you 
wherever  you  go." 

20  To  this  fpeech  Jefus 
replied.  You  egregioully  err, 
if  you  imagine  that  I  am  go- 
ing to  ere6t  an  earthly  king- 
dom of  pomp  and  magnifi- 
cence— fo  far  from  this  that 


T  H  E  w.  23 

the  beafts  of  the  field,  and 
the  fowls  of  the  air  are  accom- 
modated with  better  and  hap- 
pier conveniencies  than  the 
ion  of  man. 

21  At  that  time  alfo  a- 
nother  of  his  followers  faid 
CO  him.  Sir,  I  have  formed 
dchberate  refolutions  to  fol- 
low you  ;  only  at  prefcnt  al- 
low me  to  p-o  home  to  at- 
tend  the  funeral  of  my  tather 
and  fettle  his  effeds. 

22  Jefus  faid  to  him • 

From  the  moment  you  en- 
gaged in  my  caufe,  you  were 
under  an  indifpenfable  obli- 
gation to  renounce  all  con- 
nexions with  your  earthly  re- 
lations and  fortunes.  Let 
thofe  who  are  dead  to  all  fenle 
of  religion  and  virtue  diftrad 
themfelves  with  fordid  cares 
— but  do  you  adhere  to  me, 
and  diligently  ftudy  the  doc- 
trines and  inftrudions  of  my 
relio;ion. 

23  In  the  mean  time  the 
boat  was  got  ready,  into  which 
he  paired,  attended  by  his 
difciples. 

24  And  being  fatigued 
with  the  labours  and  duties 
of  the  day  he  foon  funk  into 
deep  fleep — But  behold,  dur- 
ing his  repofe,  it  fuddenly 
blew  a  dreadful  ftorm — the 
fea  run  high — and  the  waves 
lafhed  over  the  fides  of  the 
velfel. 

25  The  difciples,  greatly 

C  4        alarmed 


24  '^kd  Hiflory 

alarmed  with  their  danger, 
awoke  him,  crying  out — Sir! 
fave  us  !  we  are  all  perifhing  ! 

26  Jefus  faid  to  them — 
Why  are  ye  Teized  with  fuch 

terrours  — how  long   will 

you  diftruft  thofe  miraculous 
powers,  with  which  God  hath 
endowed  me — He  then  Hood 
up,  and  with  a  word  repref- 
ied  the  winds,  and  controul-, 
^d  the  llirges-— -and  a  calm 
immediately  eniiied. 

27  At  leeing  fuch  an  a- 
mazing  fcene,  the  perfons, 
who  were  in  the  vefiel,  were 
fixed  in  the  laft  aftonifl:iment 

and  laid- What  power  is 

here  exerted  !  What  divine 
perfonage  is  this,  whofe  man- 
date the  winds  and  waves 
pbey ! 

§ — 28  On  his  landing  in 
the  country  of  the  Gergefe- 
nes,  he  w^s  met  by  two  mad- 
men, ifiiiing  from  the  fub- 
terraneous  vaults,  where  the 
people  of  that  country  dcpo- 
fited  their  dead-: — Their  dif- 
order  oft^n  inftigatcd  them 
to  fuch  horrid  afts  of  feroci- 
ty, that  no  bpdy  durll  tra- 
vel that  road. 

29  At  feeing  Jefus,  whom 
they  had  heard  of,  they  broke 
out  into  a  loud  vociferation, 
fych  ^s  their  difordered  minds 


of  Jesus       Chap.  viii. 

dictated  —  O  Jefus,  fon  of 
God  !  what  bufmefs  haft  thou 
with  us  —  art  thou  come  hi- 
ther to  infli6t  torments  upon 
us  before  our  time  is  come  ? 

30  Now  it  happened  that 
there  was  at  fome  confiderable 
diftance  a  very  large  herd 
of  fwine  feeding. 

31  The  madmen,  uttering 
fuch  wild  effufions,  and  mak- 
ing fuch  abfurd  requefts  a* 
perfons  in  raging  madnefs  al- 
ways do,  begged  that  he 
would  fuffer  the  daemons  ^ 
to  pafs  from  them  into  the 
fwine. 

32  They  had  no  fooner 
fpoken  and  he  permitted,  but 
behold  !  the  whole  herd  was 
feized  with  madnefs^— run 

down  a  precipice- rufhed 

into  the  fe^,  and  perifhed  in 
the  deep. 

33  The  keepers  ftruck 
with  terrour  ran  away  into 
the  town,  and  told  what  had 
happened,  adding  alfo  an  ac- 
count of  the  miraculous  cure 
of  the  two  madmen. 

34  Alarmed  with  this  pub- 
lick  difafter,  the  whole  town 
can<}e  out  in  a  body  to  meet 
Jefus,  and  dreading  his  pow- 
er, unanimoufly  entreated  hitn 
to  leaye  th?ir  country. 


y  In  antient  time,  both  among  'Jeivs  and  Heathens,  madi^cfs  was  aimoit 
ttniverfally  (iinpofed  to  be  occafioaed  by  the  poffefllon  of  Damons. 


CHAP, 


Chap.  ix. 


by   Matthew. 


25 


CHAP.    IX. 

I  AT  their  earneft  folici- 
•^^  tation  he  re-entered 
the  boat,  crofTed  the  lake, 
and  came  into  the  town,  in 
which  he  had  been  educated. 

2  Upon  his  arrival  there 
they  brought  him  a  miferable 
objeft  lying  on  a  couch,  fhak- 
ing  with  the  palfy — Jefus  be- 
ing conlcious  of  the  faith  they 
repofed  in  him  as  a  divine 
meflenger,  faid  to  the  para- 
lytic— Son,  thy  fins  be  for- 
given ! 

3  Some  of  the  fcribes  when 
they  heard  this  faid  within 
themfelves  —  what  horrid 
blafphemy  againft  God  is  this 
man  guilty  of ! 

4  But  Jefus,  who  was  per- 
fedly  acquainted  with  every 
fentimentin  the  human  heart^, 
faid  to  them,  Why  do  you 
cherifh  in  your  minds  fuch 
malevolent  and  injurious 
thoughts  againfl  me  ? 

5  For  is  it  a  lels  exertion 
and  proof  of  divine  power  to 
forgive  his  fms,  than  to  re- 
ilore  him  to  health  and 
llrength  ? 

6  But  what  induced  me  to 


exprefs  myfelf  in  this  manner 
was,  to  convince  you  by  an 
evident  miracle,  that  the  fon 
of  man  is  endowed  with  au- 
thority to  forgive  fm — he  had 
no  iooner  fpokenthefe  words,, 
but  he  turned  to  the  fick  per- 
fon,  and  faid — Rife — take  up 
thy  couch — and  go  home. 

7  Inftantly  the  man  found 
his  limbs  nerved  with  ftrength 
he  rofe — took   up  his 


couch,  and  carried  it  home. 

8  The  crowds,  who  were 
witnefles  of  this  amazing  ex- 
ertion of  miraculous  power, 
were  Itruck  with  aftonifh- 
ment,  and  with  the  devouteft 
reverence  glorified  God,  who 
had  communicated  to  man 
fuch  ftupendous  endow- 
ments. 

§ — 9  I N  pafiing  from  Ca- 
pernaum Jefus  faw  a  perfon, 
whofe  name  was  Matthew, 
fitting  in  the  tax-gatherers 
office,  whom  he  commanded 
to  *  follow  him — The  man  im- 
mediately quitted  his  bufinefs, 
and  mingled  in  his  train. 

10  Jefus  accepting  of  art 
invitation  to  his  houfe  fat 
down  with  his  difciples  at  ta- 
ble among  a  large  company, 
confiding    of   tax-gatherers, 


Ac/Ttfp  0   €yvfi>  »<riv  ivt  (ftficit  ^uvinaiv  t6.     Iliad  A.  332. 

There  are  many  inftances  occur  In  the  hiftory  of  Chrift,  of  his  knowing 
mens  thouc^hts. 

*  Our  Saviour  knew  him  to  be  a  perfon  pofiefTed  of  virtuous  difpo- 
f.tions, 

and 


26 


and  other  perfons  of  immoral 
charaders. 

1 1  The  Pharifees  greatly 
offended  with  his  behaviour 
on  this  occafion  afked  his 
difciples,  what  induced  their 
mailer  to  cultivate  fuch  in- 
timate friendfhips  with  per- 
fons of  fuel:  infamous  and 
profligate  lives. 

12  Jelus  overhearing  them 
replied.  The  healthy  have  no 
occafion  for  phyfic — it  is  of 
ufe  only  to  the  indifpofed. 
Thofe,  who  are  holy  and 
good  are  already  in  poffef 
fion  of  that  moral  health  that 
my  inftruftions  were  defigned 
to  give  men  —  my  dodrines 
are  only  intended  to  heal  the 
vices  and  redify  the  mental 
diforders  of  mankind. 

13  Examine  and  difcover 
the   true    meaning   of  thofe 

words  of  the   prophet 

•'  The  exercife  of  mercy  and 
compafTion  is  more  agreeable 
to  me  than  the  moft  numerous 
and  coftly  facrifices  "  —  For 
the  defign  of  my  coming  is 
not  to  addrefs  my  difcoveries 
to  the  virtuous,  but  to  en- 
gage the  wicked  and  deprav- 
ed to  repentance  and  amend- 
ment of  life. 

§ 14  At  that  time  the 

difciples  of  John  came  to  him 
and  fpoke  thus — Why  do  we 
-and  the  Pharifees  celebrate 
many  religious  fafts,    when 


The  Hiflory  o/'  Je  s  u  s         Chap.  ijf. 

no  fuch  aufterities  are  enjoin- 
ed upon  thy  difciples. 

15  To  whom  Jefus  replied 
—  Can  the  friends  and  com- 
panions of  the  bridegroom 
indulge  melancholy  foirow, 
during  the  celebration  of 
his  nuptials  ? When   he 


leaves  them,  the  days  of  fef- 
tivity  and  joy  will  be  over, 
and  they  fhall  find  a  fad  re* 
verfe. 

16  For  to  infifl  upon  my 
difciples,  who  are  but  lately 
entered  into  the  profefTion  of 
chriftianity,  praftifing  a  courfe 
of  rigid  abftemioufnefs  and 
mortification,  would  be  a6l- 
ing  as  abfurdly  as  he,  who 
fhould  join  a  large  piece  of 
new  cloath  to  an  old  and  ob- 
folete  garment. 

17  And  as  he,  who  fhould 
put  new  wine  into  old  fkins, 
would  incur  the  lofs  both  of 
his  liquor  and  of  his  veffels 
—  the  fermentation  of  the 
wine  necelTarily  caufing  the 
old  fkins  to  rend  and  burfl 

fo  the  injunclion  of  reli- 


gious feverities  upon  my  new 
converts  and  difciples  would 
produce  the  moft  fatal  effedls 
upon  my  religion,  by  difguft- 
ing  them  againft  it,  and  cauf- 
ing them  immediately  to  a- 
bandon  and  abjure  it.  The 
impofition,  therefore,  of  no 
fuch  aufterities  as  you  prac- 
tife  I  judge  to  be  the  moft 
prudent 


chap.  ix. 


by   Matthew. 


1^7 


prudent  method  to  preferve  f      23    When   Jefus    entered 
them  fteady  to  my  cadle,  and    the  Governour's    houfe,    he 
firmly  attached  to  my  inte- 
refts. 

§ — 18  While  he  was  en- 
gaged in  this  conference  with 
John's  diiciples,  one  of  the 
Governours  approached  him 
with  profound  reverence  and 
faid — My  daughter  is  juft  de- 
parted— but  thou  art  able,  I 
am  perfuaded,  by  a  touch  to 
reftore  her  to  life. 

19  Jefus  immediately  upon 
this  rofe  up,  and  followed  the 
Governour,  attended  by  his 
difciples 

20  But  in  his  way,  a  wo- 
man, who  had  for  twelve 
years  been  afflifted  with  a 
flux  of  blood,  ftole  foftly  be- 
hind him,  and  juft  touched 
the  edging  of  his  garment : 

2 1  For  Ihe  thought,  if  fhe 
could  have  the  happinefs  but 
of  touching  his  cloaths,  fhe 
fhould  be  well  again. 

22  But  Jefus,  confcious  of 
the  touch,  turned  fuddenly 
about,  and  feeing  her  faid — 
be  not  alarmed — your  confi- 
dence in  my  power  hath  re- 
ftored  you  —  And  from  that 
moment  Ihe  was  reinftated  in 
perfedt  eafe  and  health. 


faw  the  muficians,  who  ufu- 
ally  attended  in  the  Jewilh 
funeral  folemnities  %  and  a 
number  of  mourners  pouring 
forth  the  bittereft  lamenta- 
tions. 

24  Thefe  Jefus  defired  to 
withdraw — and  in  order  to 
mitigate  that  excefllve  forrow 
which  he  faw  them  indulge, 
faid  to  them — the  young  lady 
is  not  dead — Ihe  is  only  in  a 
profound  fleep  —  At  thefe 
words  her  attendants,  who 
knew  that  flie  had  breathed, 
her  laft,  flie  wed  by  their  looks 
that  they  thought  meanly  and 
contemptibly  of  him  as  a  pro- 
phet. 

25  When  they  had  all  left 
the  room,  as  Jefus  had  com- 
manded, he  went  in,  and  took 

hold  of  her  hand and  fiie 

rofe  up : 

26  And  his  fame  was  uni- 
verfally  celebrated  in  every 
part  of  that  country. 

§ — 27  Jesus  leaving  that 
place,  was  followed  on  the 
road  by  two  blind  men,  who 
with  a  loud  and  importunate 
voice  cried,  Pity  our  condi- 
tion ! 


^  Mufic  was  ufed  at  the  funeral  folemnities  both  of  the  Jews  and  Romans, 

Cantabat  fanis,  cantabat  tibia  ludis, 

Cantabat  maeftis  tibia  funeribus.     Omid.  Fajiit  Lib.  6.  657. 

See  an  objeftion  formed  againft  chriftianity  from  this  circumftance  in 
-my  Account  of  the  Converfion  of  a  Deift.  p.  86. 

2  28  He 


i8  "The  Hiftory 

2S  He  went,  therefore,  into 
an  houfe,  and  the  blind  men 
coming  to  him,  he  faid  to 
them — ^Do  you  beheve  that  I 
am  endowed  with  power  that 
can  enable  me  to  work  the 
miracle  you  demand  ?  —  We 
do,  they  replied. 

29  Upon  this  he  touched 
their  eyes,  faying — Accord- 
ing to  your  profelTion  fliall 
my  power  be  exerted. 

30  And  their  eyes  were 
inftantaneoufly  opened — But 
Jefus  ftriftly  charged  them 
by  no  means  to  acquaint  any 
perfon  with  the  miraculous 
reftoration  of  their  fight ''. 

31  But  no  fooner  had  they 
left  him,  but  tranlported  with 
gratitude  and  joy,  they  for- 
got all  his  injun6lions,  and  di- 
vulo-ed  his  fame  throuo;hout 
the  whole  country. 

§ — 32  When  they  were 
gone  there  was  brought  to 
him  a  dumb  idiot, 

33  whom  he  immediately 
reilored  to  his  intclleds  and 
fpeech — at  which  aftonifhing 
miracle  the  crowds  were  ftruck 
with  the  laft  amazement,  and 

exclaimed What  ftupen- 

dous  power  do  we  fee  here 
difplayed  !  So  extraordinary 
a  perfonage  never  before  ap- 
peared in  Judea ! 

34  But  all  thefe  illuftrious 


of  Jesus         Chap.  ix*. 

miracles  convinced  not  the 
Pharifees  of  the  divinity  of  his 
mifllon,  but  they  evaded  their 
evidence  by  afcribing  them 
to  the  agency  of  Beelzebub 
the  prince  of  the  dasmons. 

§ — 35  Je'5us  after  this  tra- 
velled about  all  the  towns 
and  villages  in  that  country, 
delivering  his  inftrudlions  in 
the  ufual  places  of  publick 
worfhip,  proclaiming  the  com- 
mencement of  the  gofpel  dil- 
penfation,  and  miraculoufly 
curing  every  difeafe  and  dif- 
temper,  with  which  any  per- 
fon was  aftlided. 

0^6  But  when  he  took  a 
furvey  of  the  vaft  multitudes 
that  were  collected  together 
— the  fight  excited  in  his 
bofom  the  moft  fympathetic 
tcndernefs  and  pity,  when  he 
confidered  in  what  deplorable 
ignorance  the  Jewifh  priefts 
fuffered  them  to  live,  and 
into  what  fatal  errours  and 
mifi:akes  in  matters  of  reli- 
gion they  were  permitted  to 
deviate — being  left  as  much 
neglected  and  difregarded  as 
flocks  of  fiieep  upon  the  wild 
mountains. 

37  At  the  view  of  fuch 
prodigious  numbers  he  broke 
out  into  the  following^  ex- 
prcfiions,  which  he  dircfled 
to  his  difciples — ^How  exten- 


•>  This  injundlion  of  filence  was,  no  doabt,  intended  to  prevent  too 
great  crowds — at  which  .^he  malice  of  his  enemies  would  have  b^^n  more 
incited,,  and  the  Roman  powers  have  taken  umbrage. 

4  five 


Chap.  X.  hy    M  AT 

five  and  copious  the  harveft ! 
—but  alas !  how  few  the  la- 
bourers ! 

38  Fervently  pray,  there- 
fore, to  the  creatour  and  go- 
vernour  of  immortal  louls, 
that  he  would  of  his  infinite 
mercy  raife  and  qualify  a 
number  of  fit  perfons  to  reap 
lb  great  and  glorious  an  har- 
veft! 

C  H  A  P.   X. 

I  AFTER  this  Jefus  col- 
-^^  levied  his  twelve  dif- 
ciples  in  a  body,  and  com- 
municated to  them  luch  mi- 
raculous endowments,  as 
would  empower  them  to  cure 
the  mod  inveterate  and  ftub- 
born  diforders  of  every  kind 
and  degree,  to  which  human 
nature  is  fubjeded. 

2  Thefe  were  the  names  of 
his  twelve  apoflles. 

,    J        }  brothers 

2  Andrew  3 

3  James      7Zebcdee's 

4  John        3      fons 

3  5  Philip 

6  Bartholomew 

7  Thomas 

8  Matthew,    the  tax- 

gatherer 

9  James,    fon   of  Al- 

pheus 
10  Lebbeus,    firnamed 
Jude 

4  II  Simon,  the  zealot 
12  Judas  Ifcariot 


T  tt  E  W.  29 

5  Thefe  twelve  Jefus  com- 
miffioned  and  appointed  to 
the  apoftolic  office,  and  fent 

them previoufly  giving 

them  the  following  advice 
and  direftions  —  Publifh  not 
the  report  of  the  gofpel  a- 
mong  the  Heathens,  neither 
enter  into  one  city  inhabited 
by  the  Samaritans. 

6  But  confine  your  publick 
miniftrations  folely  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Judea,  who  have 
been  fo  deplorably  negledied, 
and  fuffered  to  wander  in  the 
fatal  paths  of  ignorance  and 
wickednefs. 

7  Proclaim  in  every  place, 
where  there  are  rational  crea- 
tures to  hear  the  news,  and 
fay — The  gofpel  difpenfation 
is  juil  commencing ! 

8  Heal  the  indifpofed,  cure 
the  lepers,  raife  the  dead,  ex- 
pel every  fpecies  of  lunacy 
and  madnefs  —  And  as  you 
had  thefe  fpiritual  gifts  freely 
bellowed  upon  you,  do  you 
alfo  freely  impart  their  lalu- 
tary  effeds  to  others. 

9  I  folemnly  warn  you  a- 
gainil  a  fordid  mercenary 
difpofition  —  do  not,  there- 
fore, upon  any  account  take 
money  for  the  good  you  do. 

10  Be  not  anxious  in  pre- 
paring accommodations,  and 
laying  up  provifions  for  your 
journey — The  benevolence  of 
the  well-difpofed  will  fupply 
you  with  the  necefiaries  and 

conveniences 


30  T^be  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  x. 

conveniences  of  life,  and  the 
faithful  and  diligent  difcharge 
of  your  duty  will  entitle  you 
to  them. 


11  When  you  go  into  a 
town  or  village,  make  en- 
quiry, which  of  the  inhabi- 
tants is  beft  known,  and  moft 
generally  efteemed  for  true 
worth  and  excellency  of  cha- 
rader — to  fuch  apply,  where 
you  will  moft  probably  find 
a  kind  reception,  and  con- 
tinue there,  while  you  ftay, 
that  they  may  be  witneflfes  of 
your  difinteretledncfs  and  in- 
tegrity. 

12  When  you  enter  into 
the  family,  greet  it  in  the 
moft  friendly  and  obliging 
terms,  and  wifti  it  all  divine 
and  human  happinefs. 

13  And  if  that  family  pof- 
Icfs  fuch  real  worth,  as  hath 
been  rcprefented  to  you,  the 
bleiTings  you  implore,  ftiall 
defcend  upon  it — but  if  the 
hopes  you  have  been  taught 
to  form  of  it  be  difappointed, 
and  you  meet  with  a  repulfe 
—  you,  however,  yourfelves 
will  enjoy  the  conlcious  plea- 
fure  and  fatisfafi:ion  of  hav- 
ing done  your  duty — and  the 
blefiings,  which  you  have  fup- 
plicated  the  Almighty  to  be- 
ftow  upon  that  family,  Ihall 
be  imparted  to  you  ". 

14  Moreover,     whatever 


town  or  family  ftiall  rcfufe  to 
admit  you,  and  to  hear  your 
inftrudliions,  ftiake  oft  the 
duft  of  your  feet  againft  them 
— by  this  fignificant  ailion 
giving  a  publick  and  folemn 
teftimony  to  all,  that  you 
have  freely  offered  to  tlieni 
the  advantages  and  privilcrges 
of  the  golpel,  but  they  have 
wilfully  rejefted  them. 

15  Be  affured  that  in  the 
general  judgment  Sodom  and 
Gomorra  ftiall  be  puniftied 
with  lefs  feverity  than  that 
town,  for  its  having  refifted 
greater  evidence  than  what 
thofe  cities  were  ever  favour- 
ed with. 

16  I  am  fenfible  that  by 
fending  you  abroad  to  preach 
the  gofpel,  I  expofe  you  to 
the  infult  and  cruelty  of  a  de- 
praved world.  Confider  your- 
felves, therefore,  as  flieep  in 
the  midft  of  wolves ;  and  join 
to  the  innocence  of  the  harm- 
lefs  dove  the  vigilance  and 
prudence  of  the  cautious  fer- 
pent. 

17  Let  your  conduct  be 
ever  actuated  by  difcretion, 
and  guard,  with  the  greateft 
circumfpedion,  againft  irri- 
tating mens  paftions  unnecef- 
farily  —  for  with  all  the  cau- 
tion you  can  obferve,  fo  im- 
placably will  the  generality  of 
the  world  be  exafperated  a- 


Feace  in  the  Jewilh  idiom  dienoi^i  happine/s. 


gain  ft 


Chap.  X.  ^jf    M  A  T  T  H  E  w. 

gainftyou,  merely  for  preach- 
ing the  golpel,  that  they  will 
drag  you  before  the  civil 
magiftrate,  as  the  difturbers 
and  pefts  of  fociety,  and 
fcourge  you  in  the  fyna- 
gogues,  as  enemies  to  the 
eftablifhed  religion. 

1 8  And  you  fliall  be 
brought,  for  your  profefiion 
of  chriftianity,  before  the  tri- 
bunals of  the  mod  auguft 
perfonages  —  where  the  apo- 
logies you  will  make,  in  vin- 
dication of  its  truth  and  ex- 
cellency, fhall  ferve  as  pub- 
lick  teftimonies  to  them  and 
the  world  of  its  divine  autho- 
rity. 

19  But  when  you  are  car- 
ried before  the  moll  illuitrious 
anddignifiedchara6lers,benot 
anxious  in  ftudying  a  defence 
of  your  principles  and  con- 
dudl — for  that  God,  in  whole 
caufe  you  are  engaged,  will 
enable  you,  in  that  emergen- 
cy, to  apologize  for  your- 
felves. 

20  So  that  your  publick 
pleas  on  fuch  occafions  will 
not  be  fo  much  the  efforts  of 
human  wifdom,  as  the  dic- 
tates and  fuggeflions  of  the 
fpirit  of  God. 

§ — 21  The  gofpel,  you 
are  going  to  preach,  will  in 
its  confequences,  produce  the 
mod  virulent  and  implacable 
feuds,  and  the  moll  unnatu- 
ral and  deadly  animofities  in 


3^ 

tamilies,  accordingly  as  it  is 
embraced  or  rejefted  by  their 
repedlive  members.  For  bro- 
ther fliall  murder  brother — a 
father  his  own  child  —  and 
the  fons  Ihall  imbrue  their 
hands  in  their  parents'  blood. 

22  For  you  ihall  be  held  in 
almoll  univerlaldeteflationfor 
your  profefiion — But  he,  who 
tiu'ough  all  thefe  fcenes  of 
contumely  and  cruelty,  con- 
tinues ftedfaft  in  his  attach- 
ment to  my  caufe,  fhall  final- 
ly be  rewarded  with  everlaft- 
ing  happinefs. 

23  Notwithltanding,  there- 
fore, all  the  outrages  you  are 
expofed  to,  fhow  yourfelves 
indefatigable  in  preaching  the 
gofpel,  and  when  you  meet 
with  perfecution  in  one  town, 
remove  to  another,  and  with 
invincible  refolution  preach 
the  gofpel  there — for  be  af- 
fured  you  Ihall  not  have  vi- 
fited  all  the  towns  in  Judea, 
before  the  moil  dreadful  de- 
ftru(5lion  overtake  it. 

24  A  fchoiar  hath  no  rea- 
fon  to  exped  better  treat- 
ment than. his  teacher  —  or  a 
fervant  than  his  mafler. 

25  Oughtnot  adifciple,  or 
a  flave,  to  think  himfelt  hap- 
py, if  he  have  only  to  encoun- 
ter the  fame  difficulties,  and 
to  fubmit  to  the  fame  ufage 
as  his  indruftor,  or  Lord, 
hath  experienced  from  the 
world  ? — If  they  ha\e  called 

the 


32  T^he  Hlftory 

the  mafter  of  the  houfe  Beel- 
zebub, how  much  more  will 
they  load  his  domeftics  with 
the  moft  odious  names  and 
Icandalous  reproaches. 

26  Let  not  however,  this 
leries  of  abufe  overwhelm 
you  with  terrour  and  defpair, 
and     difcourage    you    from 

preaching  the  gofpel for 

there  comes  a  day,  when  all 
the  hidden  fcenes  of  life  will 
be  laid  open,  and  fupreme 
juftice  vindicate  and  glori- 
oufly  reward  opprefled  inno- 
cence and  perfecuted  virtue. 

27  Let  the  prolpcd,  there- 
fore, of  no  human  fufferings 
intimidate  and  dejeft  you,  but 
difcharge  your  publick  mini- 
ftration  with  undaunted  cou- 
rage  proclaiming  in  the 

moft  publick  and  frequent- 
ed places  thofe  inftrudtions, 
which  I  have  given  you  in 
our  private  retirements. 

28  Fear  not  thofe,  who  can 
only  infli6l  upon  you  bodily 
pain  and  torture,  and  deprive 
you  of  a  precarious  being  — 
but  whofe  power  extends  no 
farther.  But  let  that  great 
Being  be  the  objed  of  your 
fear,  who  can  involve  both 
foul  and  body  in  total  and 
cverlaftino;  deilrudion.  Let 
that  great  Being,  1  repeat  it, 
be  the  objcd  of  your  conftant 
fear  ^ 


of  Jes  u  S  Chap,  jc* 

29  For  if  the  meaneft  and 
moft  inconfiderable  creatures 
are  perpetually  under  the  in- 
Ipedtion  of, God,  and  perifh 
not  without  his  cognifance — 
how  much  more  muft  divine 
providence  intereft  itfelf  in 
the  guardianfhip  and  protec- 
tion of  rational  beings,  and 
not  fuffer  them  to  be  wantonly 
facrificed  to  the  rage  and  ma- 
lice of  mankind,  without  his 
knowledge  and  permiiTion. 

30  So  far  from  this,  that 
the  leaft  evil  cannot  befal 
you  without  his  dire6lion  — 
for  God  is  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  all  your  mi- 
nuteft  concerns,  and  the  very 
hairs  of  your  head  are  num- 
bered by  his  all-comprehen- 
five  wifdom. 

3 1  BanilTi,  therefore,  from 
your  breaft  all  fear  of  human 
malice  and  perfecution — An 
intelligent  being  worthily 
engaged  in  the  publifhing 
among  mankind  a  religion  of 
God's  own  appointment,  is 
furely  more  intitlcd  to  the 
divine  care  and  regards  than 
the  irrational  and  inferiour 
creatures. 

32  Thefe  fufferings  are  the 
fure  tefls  of  mens  principles 
— Whofocver,  therefore,  nor- 
withftanding  the  menaces  of 
tyrants  and  the  rage  of  per- 
fecutors,  fhall,  with  undaunt- 


«*  The  maxim  of  the  great  Turennc  is  juftly  cclebratcd- 
Dieu,  et  je  n'ai  point  d'autre  crainte. 


-Je  cralns  le 


Chap.  X.  by    M  a  t 

ed  refolution,  publickly  pro- 
fefs  his  belief  of  chrifbianity, 
him  will  I  publickly  acknow- 
ledge to  be  my  true  difciple 
before  God  and  the  aflembled 
world. 

33  But  whofoeyer  fhall  be 
terrified  by  the  dread  of  pub- 
lick  odium,  or  fear  of  perfe- 
cution,  into  a  publick  recan- 
tation of  his  chrillian  prin- 
ciples, and  fliall  openly  re- 
nounce his  profefTion  —  him 
will  I  alfo  publickly  reje6t  at, 
the  general  relurredtion. 

3  4  The  promulgation  of  the 
chriftian  religion  will  produce. 
effe(5ts  in  the  world,  the  very' 
reverie  of  its  genius  and  ten- 
dency, for  tho'  it  is  defigned 
to  promote  univerfal  harmony 
and  concord,  and  to  extin- 
guifh  mens  worft  paffions, 
yet  it  will  blow  them  into 
the  moft  vehement  and  de- 
ftruftive  flames. 

35  For  it  will  occafion  fuch 
violent  quarrels  and  unhappy 
difcords,  as  will  not  only 
break  ail  the  common  ties  of 
humanity,  but  alfo  dilTolve 
the  moil  intimate  bonds  of 
confanguinity. 

36  And  through  religious 
differences  a  man's  moft  im- 
placable enemies  (hall  be 
ihofe  of  his  own  family. 


T  H  E  w.  3^ 

0^^  But  whenever  family 
affections  happen  to  interfere 
and  clafh  with  your  duty,  the 
former  muft  be  given  up 
without  hefitation — rfor  he, 
who  facrifices  his  religion, 
either  to  parental  tendernefs, 
or  to  filial  piety,  forfeits  the 
chriftian  chara6t:er,  and  will 
never  be  acknowledged  as  a 
genuine  difciple. 

38  For  unworthy  the  name 
of  chriftian  is  he,  v/ho  will 
not  fubmit  to ,  the  greateft 
difHculties  for  the  fake  of  it. 

39  For  he  who  faves  his 
life  in  this  v»'orld  by  mean 
compliances,  at  the  cxpence 
of  his  confciencc  and  religion, 
fnall  in  another  be  for  ever 
deprived  of  it  ^  — but  he  who 
lofes  his  life  in  my  caufe,  ihall 
with  infinite  advantage  re- 
gain it  in  a  glorious  and  hap- 
py immortality. 

§ — 40  These  admonitions 
I  give  you,  and  with  this  au- 
thority I  inveft  you — fo  that 
every  one  who  receiveth  you, 
in  effe6l  receives  m.e — and  he 
who  obeys  my  inftrudtions, 
obeys  the  will  of  God,  who 
originally  delegated  and  lent 
me  into  the  world. 

41  He  who  entertains  a 
publick  inftruitor,  or  a  good 
nian,  under  thele  chara^iersj 


'  This  text  is  more  in  point  than  any  other  a  direft  proof  of  the 
total  perdition  of  the  wicked  — Who  Ihail  be  pqnilhed  with  f-^irlajiing 
depruithn. 

.    Vol..  I.  D 


and 


34  ^^  Hiftory 

and  pays  their  refpedtive  dig- 
nicy  and  worth  a  real  efleem 
and  iViendly  regard,  fhall  be 
eiititled  to  a  fnare  of  their 
future  rewards. 

42  And  whofoever  fliall  do 
the  leafi  benevolent  act  ot 
generofny,  merely  on  account 
of  your  being  my  difciples, 
his  generofity  flowing  from 
fuch  an  inward  principle  fhall 
not  go  unrewarded. 


'J 


CHAP.   XI. 

E  S  U  S  having  with 
thefe  direftions  difmif- 
fed  liis  difciples,  removed 
from  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try, to  teach  and  inftruft 
other  towns  in  the  doctrines 
and  duties  of  the  gofpel. 

2  But  the  fame  of  his  a- 
ftonifhing  miracles  reaching 
Jolin,  who  was  then  in  pri- 
lon — ^he  called  two  of  his  dif- 
ciples, who  were  allowed  free 
accefs  to  him  in  his  confine- 
ment, and  ordered  them  to 
propofe  to  Jefus  the  follow- 
ing queftion  ^ 

3  Art  thou  that  illuftrous 
perfonage  foretold  by  the 
prophets  ?  or  is  the  Mefliah 
ftill  to  be  the  objed  of  our 
expeflation  ? 

4  To  which  meflage  Jefus 
replied— Go  and  give  John 


^  Jesus  Chap.  xi. 

a  faithful  account  not  only  of 
the  fatts  vvliich  you  have 
heard  from  univerfal  report, 
but  of  thofe,  of  which  your- 
felves  have  been  ipedtators. 

5  Inform  him  that  the 
blind  receive  their  fight,  the 
lame  walk,  the  lepers  are  re- 
ftored  to  health,  the  deaf  to 
hearing,  the  dead  to  life,  and 
to  the  pcwreft  objedts  are 
communicated  the  joyful  tid- 
ings of  everlafting  falvation. 

6  And  blelfed  is  he  whom 
neither  the  meannefs  of  my 
condition,  the  oppofition  of 
the  Jews,  or  the  fear  of  re- 
proach and  perfecution,  fhall 
difcourage  from  embracing 
my  religion. 

§ — 7  When  they  were 
gone,  Jefus  took  occafion  ta 
fpeak  concerning  John  to  the 
multitudes,  that  were  col-- 
lefted  together,  and  faid  to 
them — What  induced  you  to 
flock  in  fuch  crowds  into  the 
wildernefs  ? — Did  fome  trifle - 
ino;  and  ridiculous  affair  excite 
in  you  a  vain  curiofity  to  go 
thither  ? 

8  What  was  it  attradted 
your  admiration  ?  —  Did  you 
prefs  with  fuch  eager  and  im- 
patient fteps  to  fee  a  perfon 
attired  in  a  vain  and  fan- 
taflic  drefs,  who  fuddenly 
appeared  there  ? — Such  dwell 


*  John  fcnt  thefe,  that  they  mi^ht  fee  the  evidence  that  was  exhibited, 

and  afterwards  bcccme  Chrill's  disciples. 

in 


perfon, 


Chap.  xi.  4>'   Mat 

in  fplendid  and  magnificent 
palaces,  but  are  not  leen  in 
the  dreary  unfrequented  wil- 
dernels. 

9  What  was  it  then  you 
crowded  to  fee  there  ? — was 

it  a  prophet  ? -yes,  and  a 

prophet  greatly  fuperiour  in 
dignity  and  office  to  any  that 
ever  preceded  him. 

10  For  this  is  the 
whofe  future  appearance  Ma- 
lachy  predided  in  that  paf- 
fage — "  Behold  I  I  will  com- 
miflion  and  fend  a  meflenger 
to  be  thy  forerunner,  in  or- 
der that  univerfal  attention 
may  be  excited,  and  the 
minds  of  men  be  previoufly 
difpofed  for  the  reception  of 
his  heavenly  doftrines." 

Ill  aiTure  you,  there  ne- 
ver appeared  under  the  mo- 
faic  dilpenfation  a  prophet  of 
fuperiour  eminence  to  John 

the  Baptift neverthelefs, 

the  moft  ignoble  and  obfcure 
teacher  of  chriftianity  is  in- 
velted  with  a  fublimer  office, 
and  a  more  iiluftrious  mini- 
iiry  than  he  was. 

12  But  yet  from  the  time 
that  John's  miniftry  com- 
menced to  the  prefent  day, 
che  ereflion  or  the  gofpel 
kingdom  hath  been  moft 
violently  oppofed,  and  the 
depraved  and  bigQtted  Jews 
furioufly  aflault,  and  la- 
bour to  fubvert  it.  with  the 


T  H  E  w.  3^ 

moft  determined  rancour  and 
malignity. 

13  The  mofaic  fyftem  con- 
tinued in  its  full  force  'till  the 
time  that  John  entered  upon 
his  prophetic  office ;  but  it 
is  now  to  be  luperfeded  by  a 
new  and  nobler  inilitudon. 

14  And  if  you  will  admit 
and  make  proper  ufe  of  my 

aflertion beaflured,  That 

this  perfon  is  thatElias,  whom 
the  prophets  foretold  Ihould 
come  at  the  clofe  of  the  Jew- 
ifti  difpenfation. 

15  Let  every  one,  who 
hath  rational  powers  dili- 
gently cultivate  and  improve 
them,  by  carefully  inveftigat- 
ing  and  fincerely  obeying  the 
truth. 

16  But  the  prefent  gene- 
ration difcovers  fuch  a  petu- 
lancy  and  pen'^erfenefs  of  tem- 
per, that  no  method  of  in- 
ftruclion  will  produce  its  in- 
tended effefts.  I  can  com- 
pare them  to  nothing  fo  pro- 
perly as  to  a  number  of  peev- 
ifti  children,  who  are  deter- 
mined not  to  be  pleafed  with 
any  thing  their  companions 
fay  or  do : 

1 7  Who,  when  their  play-  ^ 
fellows  are  in  the  height  of 
mirth  and  chearfulnefs,  ap- 
pear fulky  and  fullen — but 
are  immediately  in  tranfports, 
when  they  lee  others  diflblved 
in  tears. 

D  2  18  The 


-.6 


^^  T^he  Hiftory 

1 8  The  difingenuous  pcr- 
verfencfs  of  the  prcfent  age  is 
evinced  from  the  averfion 
and  contempt,  they  have 
equally  fiiov/ed  to  John's  in- 
ftruclions  and  my  own — tho' 
our  method  and  manners  were 
entirely  dinimiiar.  For  Joiin 
pradiled  rigid  abfLemioulnefs, 
and  afTefted  the  greatefl  aii- 
ilerity  and  mortification  in 
his  drcfs  and  diet : 

iq  The  fon  of  man,  on 
the  contrary,  fcudied  no  fuch 
Angularities — entertained  no 
fcruples  about  any  particular 
kind  of  food,  or  liquor — but 
unaileAedly  ailociated,  and  fa- 
miliarly convcrfed  with  men  of 
all  profciTions  and  conditions, 
without  diftinclion — yet  ftill 
they  are  difguiled  and  ex- 
claim— What  a  Have  to  ap- 
petite !  Flow  exceiTivcly  fond 
of  wine  !  What  an  inlepara- 
ble  companion  of  wicked  and 

profligate    men  !  But 

thole  wlio  are  the  real  friends 
of  virtue,  confcious  of  its  in- 
valuable worth,  embrace  it, 
v/hat  exterior  form  foever  it 
affumes,  and  obey  its  dictates, 
in  what  method  and  manner 
foever  they  come  recom- 
mended. 

§ — 20  Ti'iEs  he  began  to 
upbraid  thofe  tow nr,,  v/hich 
iiad  been  wltnefTes  to  the 
"reateil  part  of  his  miracles, 
tor  their  infuperable  preju- 
dices, and  invincible  obfti- 
naey  and  impenitence. 


of  Jesus         Chap.  xi. 

21  Woe  unto  you,  O  ye 
inhabitants  of  Chorazin  and 
Bethfaida  !  had  fuch  ftriking 
proofs  of  miraculous  power 
and  divine  authority  been  ex- 
hibited before  the  citizens  of 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  they  would 
have  deemed  the  evidences 
irreliftibie,  imniediately  have 
obeyed  the  heavenly  meflen- 
ger,  and  repented  with  the 
fincereft  contrition  and  re- 
m(jrfe. 

22  Be  aiTur-cd,  therefore, 
that  in  the  generaljudgment, 
much  lefs  fevere  punifhment 
fliall  be  JnHicted  on  the  inha- 
bitants of  Sodom  and  Gomor- 
ra  than  what  you  lliall  then 
be  doomed  to. 

23  And  thou  O  Caper- 
naum I  who  now  haft,  by  thy 
power  and  opulence  mount- 
ed to  fo  high  an  elevation, 
ihalt  be  precipitated  into  the 
lowell  gulph  of  ruin  and  de- 
ilruc^lion  —  lor  Iiad  fucii  iilu- 
ftrlous  miracles,  been  wrought 
in  Sodom,  it  would  have  been 
(landing  at  this  day. 

24  As  thou  haft,  there- 
fore, refilled  ftronger  con- 
victions and  rejeded  greater 
evidences  than  Sodom  ever 
did,  be  aflured,  its  future 
miferies  will  be  lefs  dreadful 
ihan  thofe,  to  which  thou 
Ihalt  be  devoted. 

§ — 25  At  that  time  Jefus 
uttered  this  pious  ejaculation 
to  God— 1  thank  tlice,  O  thou 

greac 


Chap.  xii.  by    Ma 

great  Parent  of  univerfal  na- 
ture, that  thou  haft  hid  the 
evidences  of  the  gofpel  from 
thofe,  who  value  thcml'clves 
on  their  fuperiour  vvifdom 
and  erudition  \  but  hafl  ex- 
hibited them  in  their  full  ir- 
refiftible  force  before  humble, 
docil,  and  ingenuous  minds. 

26  I'his  procedure,  O  fii- 
preme  Father  of  all,  was  in 
confequence  of  that  benevo- 
lent plan  which  thy  innnite 
wifdom  originally  formed. 

27  Me  hath  God  commif 
fioned  and  empowered  to  re- 
veal his  will  to  mankind  — 
anci  there  is  no  being  fo  vvell 
acquainted  with  the  illuftrious 
dignity  and  office,  with  which 
lam  in  veiled,  as  the  Father — 
nor  is  there  any  intelligent 
creature  favoured  with  fo 
clear  and  fublime  a  percep- 
tion of  the  nature  and  per- 
fedlions  of  the  Deity  as  the 
Son,  and  as  all  v.'ill  entertain 
in  confeqv.ence  of  their  re- 
ception Of  the  chriftian  re- 
ligion ^. 

28  Come  unto  me  all  ye, 
who  groan  under  the  unfup- 
portable  burden  of  the  cere- 
monial law and    I   will 

vindicate  you  into  perfect 
liberty  and  freedom. 

29  Obey  nrty  doctrines  and 


T  T  H  E  w.  ^7 

precepts,  which  I  have  illul- 
trated  and  enforced  by  my 
own  condufl,  and  learn  from 
my  example  the  virtues  of 
inoffenfive  meekncls  and  un- 
affec5led  humility ——and  you 
v/ill  fccure  true  and  lafting 
peace  and  happinefs. 

30  For  my  do6lrine  is  cal- 
culated for  the  felicity  of 
mankind — its  injundlions  are 
not  rigourous  and  opprefTive 
to  liuman  nature  —  but  the 
paths  into  vviiich  it  introduces 
njen,  are  unfpeakably  plea- 
fan  t  and  deiedtable. 


C  II  A  P.    XII. 

t  T  T  happened  about  that 
■*-  time  that  as  Jefus  was 
going  through  fome  corn- 
fields, his  difciples,  compelled 
by  hunger,  plucked  fome  of 
the  ears,  as-  they  pafied  along, 
and  rubbing  them  in  their 
hands,  began  to  eat  the  corn. 

2  The  Pharifees  perceiving 
this,  laid  to  Jefus — Why  doll 
not  thou  reprove  thy  dif- 
ciples for  violating  the  duties 
of  th':;  labbath  ? 

3  To  This  Jeu'.s  replied 
— Do  not  you  reHeft  what 
hunger  once  compelled  Da- 
vid and  his  men  to  cio  } 

4  Need  I  remind  you,  that 


?  This  is  in  fa»rt  true,  and  is  n  r  m.irk.ible  prophcfy  of  our  Saviour.  All 
thcl'e  countries  will  be  icund  cxlrtr.:tiy  defedive  in  the  knowledge  of  .he 
fijprcme  G^d,  \vhich  have  not  received  the  ChrilHan  revelation. 


D 


he 


3S 


ne  Hillory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xii. 


he  went  hi  to  the  tabernacle 
and  eat  the  confecrated  /liezv 
hrcad^  v^'hich  all,  except 
priefhs,  were  finely  prohi- 
bited from  tailing. 

5  The  rondudl  alfo  of  the 
priefts,  tho'  on  a  fabbath  day 
they  go  tliroLigh  all  the  work 
and  labour  of  the  temple  fer- 
vice  and  facrifices,  is  not  ac- 
counted criminal. 

6  And  if  the  fibbatical 
employment  of  the  priefls  in 
the  temple  exempt  them 
from  all  guilt,  much  more 
will  the  important  office  ot 
preaching  the  gofpcl,  with 
which  I  have  invefted  my 
difciples,  excufe  themi. 

7  If  you  had  known  the 
true  meaning  of  thofe  words 
in  the  prophet — "  I  am  bet- 
ter pleafed  with  acfls  of  mer- 
cy and  compafTion,  than  with 
the  moil  coftly  facrifices" — 
God  by  this  dire6lion  infi- 
nuating  that  pofitive  inflitu- 
tions  are  in  his  eftimation  of 
jnferiour  vakie  to  moral  ob- 
ligations— you  would  nor  with 
fuch  rigour  have  cenfured 
my  difciples  for  the  violation 
of  a  mere  external  cere- 
mony, and  the  tranfgreflion 
of  a  command  purely  arbi- 
trary, 

8  For  the  Ton  of  man  is 
authorized  to  fet  men  free 
irom  thofe  ceremonious  ri- 
gours and  fabbatical  feveri- 
t;es,  which  you  impofe. 


§ — 9  Going  from  that 
place  he  went  into  one  of 
LJieir  religious  aflemblies, 

10  in  Vv'hich  there  was  a 
man,  who  had  a  withered 
hand.  Hie  Jews,  therefore, 
feeino;  his  attention  cnar-ao-cd 
by  fuch  an  unhappy  fpeftacle, 
and  watching  every  opportu- 
nity to  alperfe  and  blacken 
his  character,  and  deftroy  his 
publick  ulefulnefs,  faid  —  Is 
it  lawful  to  heal  on  the  fab- 
bath ? 

11  To  which  queflion  he 
replied — Is  there  any  of  you, 
tho'  the  moft  ftricl  and  con- 
fcientious  obferver  of  the  fab- 
bath, v/ho  would  hefitate  a 
moment  to  extricate  a  fheep, 
that  was  entangled  in  a  brake, 
or  fallen  into  a  pit  on  the 
fabb.uh  day  ? 

1 2  And  if  no  one  fcruples 
to  afTill  a  bead  in  fuch  cir- 
cumftances  —  how  infinitely 
more  fit  and  lawful  is  it  to 
do  an  a<51:  of  mercy  and  be- 
nevolence on  a  fabbath  day 
to  a  rational  being  ! 

13  He  then  turned  to  the 
man,  and  faid — Extend  thy 
arm — he  extended  it — and  it 
was  inftantaneoufly  as  perfect 
as  the  other. 

14  But  the  Pharifees,  in- 
flead  of  being  convinced  by 
this  amazing  difplay  of  di- 
vine power,  went  av^ay  flung 
with  implacable  rage  and  in- 
veterate malice — and  imme- 
diately 


Chap.  xii.  ^X    ^^  ^ 

diateiy  confederated  together 
and  vowed  hiS  deftruftion. 

1 5  But  Jefus  by  that  know- 
ledge of  the  human  heart, 
with  which  he  was  endowed, 
being  confcious  of  their  de- 
figns  againft  his  life,  remov- 
ed from  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try, attended  with  vaft  mul- 
titudes of  people;  among 
whom  he  cured  ail  who  la- 
boured under  any  difeafe. 

1 6  But  ftridly  charged 
them  not  to  divulge  the  fame 
of  his  miraculous  cures — left 
the  Jews,  fired  with  refent- 
ment,  (hould  apprehend  him 
and  accelerate  his  death. 

1 7  By  his  courting  priva- 
cy, therefore,  and  making 
obfcure  retreats  the  fcene  of 
his  inftru(flions  and  miracles, 
he  fulfilled  the  following  pro- 
phecy of  Ifaiah. 

i8  *'  Behold  my  fervant, 
the  objeft  of  all  my  fondeit 
affctitions  !  I  will  impart  to 
him  the  moft  excellent  gifts 
and  aftoniihing  powers,  and 
he  Ihall  propagate  true  reli- 
gion among  the  nations. 

19  He  fhall  not  convoke 
the  people,  with  loud  voci- 
feration, to  fee  his  miracles 
— nor  difplay  his  divine  en- 
dowments in  the  ftrcets,  with 
oftentatious  parade  : 

20  The  whole  of  his  de- 
portment Ihall  be  meek  and 


T  T  H  E  W.  39 

I  inoffenfive,  and  ever  aduated 
by  the  rules  of  prudence  and 
caution  —  'till  the  time  that 
he  fhall  have  finiQied  the  pe- 
riod of  his  publick  miniftry, 
and  firmly  eff  ablifhed  his  reli- 
gion. 

21  And  after  its  eflablifh- 
ment  in  Judea,  the  Heathens 
fhall  embrace  it,  and  receive 
him  as  the  MefTiah  and  law- 
giver of  the  world.** 

§ — 22  There  was  brought 
to  him  at  that  time  a  moll 
miferable  objeft,  labouring 
under  a  dreadful  complica- 
tion of  afflictions  —  for  the 
wretched  creature  was  in- 
fane,  blind,  and  dumb — But 
he  inftantly  "reftored  him  to 
the  ufe  of  his  hearing,  fpeech, 
and  intellefts. 

23  At  which  miracle  the 
whole  multitude  were  ftruck 
with  the  laft  amazement,  and 
faid — Muft  not  this  peribaagc 
be  the  MefTiah  "" .? 

24  The  Pharifees,  who 
were  prcfent,  hearing  this 
language,  and  being  deter- 
mined to  evade  the  evidence, 
to  renounce  his  pretenfions, 
and  to  ruin  his  reputation 
with  the  multitude,  replied 
—  This  man  is  only  a  con- 
federate with  the  dsemons, 
and  ejefts  them  by  means  of 
Ibme  compad:  v/ith  their 
chieftain  Beelzebub. 


*•  This  Is  the  reading  in  feveral  MSS. 

D  4 


25  But 


40 


2  5  But  Jefus,  whofe  divine 
knowlecV,e  penetrated  the 
human  heart,  and  pervaded 
all  its  inmoft  receffes,  know- 
ing their  malicious  thoughts 
and  invidious  dcHgns,  turned 
to  them  and  thus  addrelTed 
them — Every  kingdom  torn 
by  internal  divifions  and  ci- 
vil diicord  is  quickly  reduced 
to  a  ftate  of  the  moft  deplo- 
rable difiblution  and  ruin  — 
every  city  alfo  and  every  fa- 
mily, full  of  diffention  and  the 
rage  of  faftion  and  animofity, 
cannot  flourifh  and  profpcr: 

16  Now  if  Satan  empower 
any  one  to  expel  thole  dae- 
mons which  he  himfelf  in- 
jecls,  he  mufl  foment  dilTen- 
tions  in  his  own  kingdom — 
and  confcquently  confcnts  to 
its  weaknefs  and  demolition. 

27  Befide,  if  I  ejeft  d.t- 
mons  by  a  confederacy  with 
Beelzebub — by  whofe  agency 
and  aiTiftance  do  your  relati- 
ons eject  them  ? — As  to  any 
real  league  or  compad  that 
they  have  with  infernal  fpirits 
as  their  co-adjutors,  I  refer 
you  to  ibeir  determination 
and  judgment'. 

28  But   if  I  exterminate 


T&e  Hiilory  0/'  ]es r s 
dasmons   and 


Chap,  xii. 

cure  the  moft 
inveterate  diforders  by  a  pow- 
er communicated  to  me  from 
the  fupreme  Kcing it  fol- 
lows, that  I  am  commiiiTioncd 
and  authorized  by  God  to 
eftablifh  his  kingdom  and 
promote  the  intcrefts  of  his 
moral  government. 

29  As  no  one  can  forcibly 
enter  the  houfe  of  a  ftrong 
man  and  pillage  it,  unlefs  he 
be  polTelTed  of  ftrength  to  bind 

and  confine  him fo  the 

power,  with  which  I  am  en- 
dowed to  expel  djemons, 
proves  me  pofTclfed  of  force 
fuperiour  to  theirs. 

30  So  far,  therefore,  am  I 
from  being  an  accomplice 
with  Satan,  as  you  infyiuate; 
that  Satan,  difclaiming  all 
connections  with  me,  oppofes 
me  with  implacable  malice — 
and  is  fo  far  from  being  my 
auxiliary,  that  he  caufes  the 
greareft  mifchict^,  in  order  to 
counteract  my  defigns'^. 

3  I  And  as  to  your  afcrib- 
ing  my  miracles  to  a  fuppofed 
intercourlb  v/ith  Beelzebub, 
let  n>e  obferve  concerning  this 
that  the   moil:  atrocious 


crimes  and  the  moft  aggra- 


1  Meaning,  that  they  would  find,  upnn  examining  them,  that  it  was 
impoifTble  that  any  fuch  intcrcourfc  or  confederacy  with  evil  fpirits  iTiould 
ever  be  eftabliflied. 

'*  Tlie  literal  tranflation  of  the  Verfe  is  this— He  (i.  c.  Satan)  not  be- 
ing with  nie  is  againft  me  —  and  not  gathering  flicafs  with  me,  fcatters 

them  all  abroad Obferve,  that  our  Lord  rcafoncd  and  confuted  them 

upon  /Idr  principles. 

vated 


Chap.  xii.  by    M  A  t 

vated  guilt  fhall  be  forgiven  •, 
but  that  incorrigible  malig- 
nity of  heart,  which  can  in- 
duce men  to  evade  all  the 
itriking  evidence  of  divine 
power  that  hath  been  exhi- 
bited, by  imputing  them  to 
a  confederacy  with  daemons, 
fhall  never  be  forgiven — as  it 
is  fuch  an  enormity  of  con- 
duct, and  difcovers  a  mind 
fo  infuperably  prejudiced  and 
depraved,  as  the  ftrons;c(t 
convictions  could  never  affed: 
and  penetrate. 

32  Even  the  moft  oppro- 
brious calumnies  againil  the 
fon  of  man  lliall  be  forsiven 
—  but  he  who  fhall  reieft  all 
the  moft  illuftrious  proofs, 
and  with  falfehood  and  blaf- 
phemy  afcribe  the  miraculous 
operations  of  God  to  the  in- 
vifible  machinery  and  energy 
of  wicked  and  infernal  fpirits, 
precludes  all  conviction,  and 
fliall  never  be  forgiven,  here 
or  liereafter. 

33  So  that  as  the  goodnefs 
or  badnefs  of  a  tiee  is  cer- 
tainly difcovered  by  the  fruit 
it  bears  — -  fo  the  moral  be- 
haviour and  actions  of  men 
are  an  infallible  teft  and  cri- 
terion of  the  goodnefs  or  bad- 
nefs of  their  hearts. 

34  For  is  it  poffible  that 
you,  who  harbour  in  your 
hearts  fuch  virulence  and  ran- 
cour againft  me,  can  fpeak 
of  me  with  candour  and  de- 


T  H  E  W. 


41 


cency  ? your  prefent  re- 
proaches are  but  the  ovcr- 
Hovvings  of  a  depraved  heart. 

35  Mens  outward  conver- 
lotion  and  deportment  are  the 
true  index  ot  their  minds  — 
the  good  actions  of  a  virtuous 
perion  flow  from  the  pure 
iburce  of  a  good  heart :  but 
the  actions  of  a  bad  man  come 
Trained  and  tinctured  from  the 
impure  fountain  of  a  corrupt 
heart. 

0,6  And  be  aiTufsed,  that 
for  every  contemptuous  ban- 
ter and  Ineer  that  fhall  be  c ail 
upon  the  divine  authority  and 
illuftrious  evidences  of  the 
gofpel,  thofe  who  have  wan- 
tonly and  malicioufly  thrown 
out  fuch  invidious  reflecfions, 
fhall  be  called  to  a  fevere  ac- 
count at  the  general  judg- 
ment. 

1^^  For  men,  v/ho  have  had 
the  evidences  of  the  gofpel  in 
all  their  Juftre  propofed  to 
them,  fhall  in  that  day  be 
either  applauded,  or  con- 
demned, according  as  they 
have  adniitted  or  reied:ed  the 
proofs  given  in  acteftation  of 
it. 

§ — 38  At  that  time  fome 
of  the  Scribes  and  Phari- 
fees  fpoke  to  him  and  faid 
— Sir,  the  miracles  you  have 
hitherto  wrought  have  not 
been  able  to  convince  us — 
Iliov/  us  fome  extraordinary 
prodigy,  that  may  be  an  ir- 
refiftible 


42  T^he  Hiflory 

rcfiftible  proof  to  us  of  your 
divine  commiffion. 

:^9  To  whom  Jefus  thus 

replied A  nation  funk  in 

debauchery  an''  wickednefs, 
not  fatisfied  with  all  the  proofs 
I  have  hitlicrto  publickly 
given  of  my  prophetic  mii- 
fion  and  chara<5ter,  requires 
me  to  exhibit  before  them 
fome  miraculous  prodigy — 
But  as  they  have  hitherto  re- 
fifted  all  the  other  ftriking 
leftimonies  I  have  hitherto 
produced,  no  miraculous  pro- 
digy fhall  be  further  granted 
them,  except  one  that  will 
be  fimiiar  to  what  befel  the 
prophet  Jonah. 

40  For  as  Jonah  being 
thrown  into  the  lea,  and  fwai- 
lowed  by  a  great  fiih ',  lay 
ingulphed  in  its  profound  and 
capacious  belly  three  days 
and  three  nights,  and  was  af- 
terwards difgorged,  and  re- 
ftored  to  light  and  life — fo 
fnall  the  fon  of  man  continue 
the  fame  fpace  of  time  in  the 
grave,  and  afterwards  burft 
the  bonds  of  death. 

41  The  behaviour  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Nineveh  fhow 
the  conduft  of  the  prefent 
age  to  be  abfolutely  inexcuf- 
able.  For  tho'  Jonah  only 
gave    them  verbal   admoni- 


of  Jesus        Chap.  xii. 

tions  attended  with  no  mira- 
cles, yet  they  were  awakvn- 
ed,  and  repented  in  fincerc 
jmd  unfjlgncd  coniriLion  — 
but  this  age  hath  rejecued  a 
pcrfon  vcflcd  with  an  infi- 
nitely greater  authority  and 
fuperiour  power. 

42  The  conduft  alio  of  the 
queen  of  Arabia  will  at  the 
general  judgment  evince  to 
the  whole  ailembled  world 
that  the  condemnation  of  the 
prefent  race  will  be  iuil — For 
fhe  felt  fuch  emotions  at  the 
fame  of  Solomon's  celebrated 
wifdom,  that  nothing  could 
allay  her  vehement  defire  of 
converfing  with  fuch  match- 
lefs  knowledge,  but  fhe  haf- 
tencd  with  impatient  Heps  to 
Jerufalem,  tho'  immenfe  and 
rugged  regions  interpofed  — 
But  the  prefent  generation 
treat  a  perfon  of  fuperiour 
wifdom  and  eminence  to 
Solomon,  with  the  laft  con- 
tempt. 

43  When  an  impure  fpirit 
is  ejected  out  of  a  man,  it 
roams  over  dreary  and  inhof- 
pitable  waftes,  in  queft  of 
rcpofe,  but  fatally  difap- 
pointed : 

44  Tired  with  devious 
wandering,    and   filled    with 

I  defpondency,  it  forms  a  re- 


'  The  Greeks  ufed  the  word  xhto<  to  denote  not  merely  a  whale,  but 
any  large  fi(h,  as  is  evident  from  the  following  paffage  in  Plutarch  : 
Xo'?'<^K>i'  iv  KaQa^u  hiu.ivt  xHTcj  ffWiKaCt.   Phocion  p.  1384.  Ed.  Steph. 

folution. 


Chap.  xiii.  by   Mat 

folucion,  at  all  adventures, 
to  return  to  its  old  refidence 
—  when  behold  !  on  its  ap- 
proacli  it  finds  it  furnifhed 
with  every  elegance  for  its 
reception. 

45  Tranfported  with  this 
unexpe6led  happinefs,  it  ran- 
ges in  fearch  of  its  compa- 
nions, and  takes  a  number  of 
daemons  of  greater  malignity 
and  ferocity  than  itfelf — and 
they  all  take  poffefiion,  and 
render  the  lall  condition  of 
that  man  infinitely  more 
wretched  and  deplorable  than 
it  was  before '". 

§ — 46  While  he  was  en- 
gaged in  thefe  difcourfes,  his 
mother  and  his  brothers, 
wanting  to  confult  him  pri- 
vately, could  not  gain  accefs 
to  his  perfon,  for  the  multi- 
tudes that  furrounded  him. 

47  Upon  which  a  perfon 
faid  to  him  —  your  mother 
and  your  brothers  are  come 
and  feek  a  private  conference 
with  you,  but  are  prevented 
by  the  crouds  from  approach- 
ing you. 

48  From  this  incident  Je- 
fus  taking  occafion  to  incul- 


T  H  E  W.  43 

cate  a  leflbn  of  ufeful  inftruc- 
tion  upon  his  hearers,  addref- 
fing  the  perfon,  who  inform- 
ed him,  and  raifing  his  voice, 
faid — Whom  do  you  call  my 
mocher,  and  whom  my  bro- 
thers .? 

49  Then  turning  to  his 
difciples,  and  llretching  out 
his  hands  over  them,  he  faid 
—  Behold  my  mother !  Be- 
hold my  brothers ! 

50  For  every  perfon,  who 
fincerely  loves  God  and  obeys 
his  will,  is  united  to  me  by 
more  ftrong  and  intimate 
bonds  than  the  clofeft  ties  of 
blood  can  form— and  fuch  a 
charader  fhall  be  to  nie  every 
endearing  relation  in  one. 

CHAP.    XIII. 

I  T>  U  T  Jefus  finding  him- 
•*-^  felf  greatly  incommod- 
ed in  the  houfe,  and  his  in- 
ftru6tions  confined  within  a 
narrow  circle,  removed  to 
the  fea  fhore,  tliat  he  might 
be  more  generally  heard. 

2  And  taking  a  boat,  he 
fat  down  in  it while  infi- 
nite   crowds    colledted    and 


™  By  this  fabulous  reprefentation  Is  fitly  adumbrated  the  moral  ftate  of 
the  Jewifh  nation  during  our  Saviour's  miniftry  —  for  tho'  their  vices  and 
prejudices  were  for  a  time  difcardedy  when  John  made  his  public  ap- 
pearance, and  they  were  baptifed  by  him  makinc^  penitent  confeffion  of 
their  fins — yet  theie  vices  foon  returned  and  repojfejfd  them  with  greater 
force  and  violence  than  ever,  and  by  rendering  their  hearts  inaccefTible 
to  all  conviction  at  lait  plunged  them  in  the  moft  fatal  mifery  and  de- 
ilrufUon. 

2  formed 


44  77v  Hidcry 

formed  themfelves  on  the 
rifing  beach. 

3  To  thefe  he  thought  pro- 
per to   convey  ini^i-iiclion  in 

fabulous  reprelen cations 

and  he  addrclfcd  to  them  the 
following  parable  —  Ant  huf- 
bandmari  went  cut  to  fow  his 
grounds. 

4  But  the  feed  being  fcat- 
ttrcd  promifcuoufly,  and  in 
every  diredion,  met  accord- 
ingly a  various  fate — for  fome 
fell  on  the  hard  beaten  path, 
into  which  not  being  admit- 
ted, as  it  lay  on  the  fui-face, 
the  birds  urged  with  hunger 
immediately  light,  and  pick- 
ed it  all  up. 

5  Others  fell  on  hard  im- 
penetrable rocks,  juft  cover- 
ed with  foil — 'into  which  as 
foon  as  received,  it  came  up, 
but  having  no  depth  of  foil, 
it  was  not  able  to  flrike  root ; 

6  fo  that  when  the  fun  rofe 
and  affailed  it  with  its  fcorch- 
ing  beams,  it  was  inftant  ly  fliri- 
velled,  and  being  dcftitute  of 
both  root  and  moifture,  it 
withered,  faded,  and  died. 

7  Some  alfo  fell  among 
rank  and  invincible  weeds  — 
which  fhooting  out  tall  luxu- 
rious branches,  and  fpread- 
ing  around  their  baletul  in- 
fluence, entirely  choaked  ami 
killed  it  by  depriving  it  of  all 
nourifhment. 

8  But  other  feeds  fell  upon 
good  foil in  whofe  genial 


cf  Jesus         Chap.  xlli. 

bofom  being  foftered  and  ad- 
vanced to  maturity,  it  repaid 
the  hufbandnan  with  a  rich 
and  copious  crop,  proporti- 
onate to  the  relpcclive  de- 
grees of  the  foil's  fertility. 

9  l.,et  every  one,  whom 
God  hath  endowed  with  ra- 
tional and  intellcdual  pov/- 
ers,  cultivate  and  improve 
them  by  a  diligent  anc!  care- 
ful attention  to  truth  and  fa- 
cred  inftruction. 

§ — TO  HAVi>rG  finifhed 
this  difcourfe,  tl^-  difciples 
afl<ed  him  in  private,  what 
induced  him  to  convey  his 
doftrines  to  the  populace  in 
the  vehicle  of  fiction  and  pa- 
rable. 

1 1  To  which  queftion  he 
thus  replied — Your  good  dif- 
pofitions  have  previoufly  en- 
gaged you  to  embrace  the 
goipel,  from  a  perfuafion  of 
its  truth  and  excellence,  and 
you  are  acquainted  with  its 
original  defign  and  tendency 
but  the  incredulous  and 


oblHnate  Jews,  who  com- 
pofe  the  greatefl:  part  of  my 
audience,  are  deftitute  of  the 
love  of  virtue,  candour  and 
truth. 

12  For  he  that  is  blciTed 
with  good  difpofition^,  and 
enquires  after  truth  with  fin- 
cere  honefby  and  impartiality, 
(hall  greatly  augment  jiis  for- 
mer flock  of  religious  know- 
ledge, and  by  the  diligent 
culture 


Chap.  xiii.  by   M  a  t 

culture  of  his  intelleftual 
powers  reap  a  copious  har- 
vefl  of  v/iiUom  and  virtue — 
but  he,  v.'l.o  carries  not  theie 
good  difpofitions  to  the  in- 
vedigation  of  truth,  but  hath 
his  mind  warped  by  preju- 
dice and  perverted  by  vice, 
v/ill  be  fo  far  from  embracing 
truth,  when  it  prefents  itfelf 
before  him,  in  the  fulnefs  of 
evidence,  that  it  will  only 
rivet  and  eltabli(l:i  his  former 
prejudices  the  more. 

13,  This,  therefore,  is  the 
motive  that  hath  induced  me 
to  veil  the  truth  under  the 
fliade  of  parable  —  becaufe 
thofe,  who  have  been  eye- 
witneiTes  of  my  illuftrious 
miracles,  have  not  been  con- 
vinced ;  and  thofe  who  have 
heard  authentic  accounts  of 
them,  have  not  been  per- 
fuaded  of  their  crcdfbility 
and  admitted  them  as  proofs 
of  my  divine  mifnon  and 
charafter. 

14  So  that  I  may  juitly 
apply  to  the  prefect  age  the 
following  palTage  in  Ifafah,  as 
defcriptive  of  their  moral  ftate 
and  condition  —  "  You  fliall 
hear  repeated  accounts  of  the 
moft  amazing  miracles — but 
they  fnali  produce  no  rational 
convidlions  in  your  minds- — 
you  fhall  even  behold  fre- 
quent difpiays  of  fupernatu- 
ral  power —  but  fhall  not  ac- 
knowledge it  to  be  divine. 


T  H  E  W.  4^ 

15  For  the  perception  of 
this  people  is  blunted  by  pre- 
pofit'ffion,  fo  that  it  is  impof- 
fible  to  gain  admiffion  to  their 
hearts  by  the  avenues  of  any 
of  their  fenfes— for  they  have 
neither  the  faculties  of  feeing, 
hearing,  or  underftanding  to 
bellow  on  any  fcheme,  that 
hath  a  tendency  to  produce  a 
general  reformation  and  a- 
mendment  of  life  amono- 
them." 

16  But  great  beyond  de- 
fcription  is  your  happinefs, 
who  are  upon  the  ftrongeft 
evidence  convinced,  by  what 
you  continually  fee  and  hear, 
of  the  divine  dignity  and  e- 
minence  of  my  prophetic  of- 
fice and  authority. 

17  For  be  a0Lired,  that 
many  of  the  moll  illuftrious 
and  diftinguifhcd  perfonao-es 
tor  wifdom  and  virtue  in  for- 
mer ages,  have  defired  to  live 
in  the  times  in  which  you  live, 
and  to  be  fpeftators  of  thofe 
grand  fcenes,  which  you  every 

day  behold but  were  not 

permitted. 

18  As  you  have,  there- 
tore,  embraced  my  religion, 
and  are  defirous  to  know  its 
precepts  and  dc6lrines  —  at- 
tend to  the  following  expli- 
cation of  the  fable  Juft  re- 
cited. 

19  The  feed,  then,  that 
was  fcattered  upon  the  beaten 
path  reprefents  everv  perfcn 

whofe 


46  The  Hillory 

whofe  prejudices  and  ftupidi- 
ty  will  not  fuffer  the  dodrines 
of  Chrillianity  to  make  any 
lafting  imprefilon  upon  their 
ininds,  but  furrender  up  the 
principles  of  it  an  eafy  prey 
to  any  perfon  who  is  wick- 
ed enough  to  defire  the  fa- 
crifice. 

20  The  feed  fown  upon 
the  rocks  (lightly  covered 
with  earth  is  intended  to  de- 
le rihe  thofe,  who  on  the  lirft 
propofal  immediately  embrace 
the  gofpel  with  tranfport. 

21  But  thefe  their  tranf- 
ports  are  but  of  a  fliort  and 

momentary  duration for 

their  minds  being  full  of  ca- 
price and  levity  render  it  im- 
poffible  for  the  gofpel  to  e- 
rect  any  thing  folid  and  du- 
rable on  fo  light  and  unfVable 

a  foundation fo  that  the 

very  firil  trial  and  perfecu- 
tion,  that  alfails  them,  fub- 
verts  their  principles,  and 
caufcs  them  immediately  to 
abiure  Chriftianity  without 
the  leaft  remorfe. 

12  The  feed,  moreover, 
which  was  difTeminated  a- 
mong  thorns,  denotes  thofe, 
who  hear  and  profcfs  the  gof- 
pel —  but  their  anxious  foli- 
citude  for  fecular  honour  and 
grandeur,  and  their  infatiable 
luft  of  gold,  deprive  the  good 
principles  they  have  imbibed 
of  nourifhmeni,  and  entirely 


^  Jesus         Chap.  xlii. 

preclude  all  religious  and  vir- 
tuous improvement. 

23  Laftly,  by  the  good 
feed  fown  upon  good  land 
are  fignified  thofe  virtuous 
charaders,  who  attentively 
liften  to  the  important  lefibns 
of  the  gofpel,  and  make  it 
their  ftudy  to  underftand 
them  —  and  who,  in  confe- 
quence  of  their  thirfc  after 
moral  and  religious  pleafures, 
attain  a  confiderable  profici- 
ency in  the  knowledge  of  di- 
vine things. 

§ — 24  After  having  thus 
given  the  moral  of  the  fore- 
going fable  in  private  to  his 
difciples — headdreffed  to  the 
people  alfo  the  following  pa- 
rable— Tkb  gofpel  difpenfa- 
tion  may  be  compared  to  an 
hufbandman,  who  fowed  his 
ground  with  good  feed. 

25  But  at  the  dead  of  night, 
when  every  eye  was  clof- 
ed  in  fleep,  his  malicious  e- 
nemy  ftole  into  the  field  -— 
fov/ed  tares  among  the  wheat 
—and  then  Qunk  away. 

26  So  that  no  fooner  was 
the  corn  in  the  blade  and  be- 
gan to  promife  a  copious  har- 
veft,  but  it  was  found  to  be 
intermixed  with  tares,  which 
Ihot  up  in  great  abundance. 

.27  Struck  with  this  unexr 

pe6ted  pha^nomenon,  the  fcr- 

vants  hallened  to  their  mafter 

andfdid  — Sir,  you  certainly 

lowed 


Chap.  xiii.  iy   M  at 

fowed  good  grain  in  your  field 
— —  what  is  the  realbn,  there- 
fore, that  it  hath  produced 
jfuch  a  quantity  oi  tares  ? 

28  This  injury,  laid  he  to 
them,  is  dorie  mc  by  fome 
peribn  that  wifhes  mc  ill  — 
Would  you  have  us  go  then, 
jaid  the  iervanrs,  and  clear  the 
a'ops  of  them  ? 

29  By  no  means,   lie  re- 
plied— for  by  eradicating  the 
tares   you  will    at  the  fame . 
time  lool'en  the  roots  of  the 
wheat. 

30  Let  both  continue  in 
the  mixed  ftate  they  are  in 
'till  the  harveft  —  and  then  I 
fliall  order  my  reapers  firft  to 
colled  the  tares  together  and 
burn  them  up  —  afterwards 
carefully  to  feled:  the  good 
grain  and  repofit  it  in  my 
barn. 

§ — 3 1  The  following  was 
alfo  another  of  his  inftrudive 
fables,  which  he  publickly 
delivered  —  Christianity 
is  in  its  original  like  a  fingle 
grain  of  muftard  feed,  which 
a  man  lows  in  his  held. 

32  Which  is  one  of  the 
leaft  of  all  feeds — but  after  it 
hath  attained  its  full  growth, 
becomes  one  of  the  talleil 
of  the  vegetable  world,  and 
ftretches  out  its  branches 
with  fuch  ftately  grov/th  and 
luxuriance,  as  to  afibrd  Ihel- 
ter  and  lodging  to  the  fea- 
thered tribes. 


T  H  E  W,  47 

§  —  33  This  parable  he 
likewife  addrefled  to  the  peo- 
ple— Christianity  may  be 
compared  to  leaven,  which 
a  woman  mixed  among  a 
very  confiderable  quantity  of 
dough,  'till  the  whole  mafs 
w:is  fermented. 

34  Fable  or  parable  was 
the  didadic  form  in  which 
Jefus  chofe  to  convey  inftruc- 
tion  to  his  audience — All  his 
publick  difcourfes  abounded 
with  moral  allegories  and  fi- 
gurative reprefentations : 

35  So  that  the  words  of 
the  pfalmift  may  be  properly 
cited  and  applied  to  Jefus— 
"  I  will  utter  parables,  and 
diiclofe  important  things  un- 
known to  former  ages." 

^^-^^  After  Jelus  had  re- 
tired from  the  multitude  into 
a  private  houfe — the  difciples 
approached  and  thus  accofted 
him — Condefcend  to  give  us 
an  explication  of  the  fable  of 
the  tares. 

37  In  compliance  with 
their  requeft  he  gave  them 
the  following  explanation—- 
By  the  perfon,  who  fowed  the 
good  grain,  I  intended  to 
reprefent  the  fon  of  man- — 

3  8  By  the  field — ^the  pre- 
fent  Hate  of  trial  and  difci- 

pline by  the  good  grain, 

virtuous — and  by  the  tare:i— 
wicked  chriftians. 

39  By  the  enemy  that  fow- 
ed them,  the  devil — by  the 
harveft. 


48 

harvcfl:,  the  final  coniumma- 
tionof  this  probationary  ibene 

and  by  the  reapers,  the 

Anirels. 

40  For  as  in  harveft  time 
the  tares  are  carefully  fepa- 
rated  from  the  grain,  collec- 
ted together,-  and  entirely 
burnt  up — fo  v/ill  God  in  the 
day  of  iudgment  deal  with 
worthlefs  and  incorrigible  fin- 
ners. 

41  For  the  fon  of  man 
fhall  difpatch  his  angels  into 
every  part  of  his  wide  and 
extenfr/e  kingdom,  and  they 
{hall  convene  together  every 
one,  who  hath  wilfully,  ei- 
ther by  precept  or  example, 
impeded  tlie  progrefs  of  re- 
ligion, and  Ird  impious  and 
immoral  lives : 

42  Antl  t!iey  Iliall  drive 
and  precipitate  them  into  a 
yawning  gulph  of  flaming 
fire,  where  they  fhall  feel  the 
moft  excruciating  pain,  and 
.llifFer  mifery  and  horroiir 
unutterable. 

43  But  the  finccrely  pious 
and  virtuous  fliall  then  be 
invcfted  with  a  robe  of  celef- 
tial  glory,  reiembiing  the 
pure  effulgence  of  the  m^eri- 
dian  fun — Let  every  rational 
and  accountable  being  attend 
to  thefe  important  and  inter- 
efting  difcovtries. 

§ — 44  Again,  the  Chrif- 
tian  revelation  is  like  an  ex- 
fcedino-    rich    and    fplendid 


The  Hiilory  0/"  Jesus       Chap.  xill. 

treafure,  which  had  for  a  long 
time  lain  privately  concealed 

in   a  field which  a  man 

chancing  to  dj(tcover,  is  trani- 
ported  with  inexprefllble  joy 
—  covers  it  up  up  again — - 
haftens  home  with  rapid  and 
impatient  Itcps — and  converts 
his  whole  ellate  into  money, 
to  purchafe  that  field. 

§ — 45  The  gofpel  king- 
dom refembles  alio  a  mer- 
chant, who  indefatigabiy  ex- 
plores foreign  regions  in  fearch 
of  the  choiceft  diamonds  : 

46  And  happenmg  to  meet 
with  one  of  immenle  value— ^ 
he  goes  immediately  and  fells 
every  thing  he  hath  in  the 
world,  and  makes  a  purchafe 
of  it. 

§ — 47  Finally,  Chriftia- 
nity  is  Uke  a  net  cart  into  the 
fea,  and  inciofing  fifh  of  every 
fpccies  : 

48  And  when  it  is  replete, 

they  drag  it  to  land then 

feacing  thcmfelves  upon  the 
fhore,  they  feparate  the  good 
from  the  bad — and  carefully 
preferve  the  firft,  but  throw 
the  lalt  away  as  altogether 
ufelefs. 

49  In  a  manner  fimilar  to 
this  fliall  men  be  treated  at 
the  general  relurre6tion — for 
the  angels  of  God  Ihall  then 
be  fentout  to  fever  the  wick- 
ed from  the  virtuou"^  : 

50  Whom,  after  they  have 
thus  difcriminated,  they  will 

plunge 


Chap.  xiii.  by   Matthew. 

plunge  into  an  abyfs  of  flam- 
ing firCi,  in  which  they  will 
feel  the 


49 


moil;  dire  and  agon- 


izing torments. 


§ — 51  After  fpeaking 
thefe  parables  Jefus  faid  to 
his  diiciples — Do  you  per- 
fedlly  underftand  my  mean- 
ing and  intention  ? they 

anfwered  in  the  affirmative. 

52  He  then  faid  to  them 
— every  publick  teacher  of 
chriftianity  ought  to  ftudy  the 
precepts  and  doctrines  of  it 
with  fuch  fedulous  applica- 
tion and  induilry,  that  he, 
like  a  careful  and  provident 
mafter  of  a  large  family,  may 
lay  up  a  rich  and  inexhaufti- 
bie  fund  of  ufeful  knowledge, 
and  may  upon  every  occafion 
be  always  able  from  a  mind 
replete  with  wifdom  to  ad- 
minifter  an  ample  and  falutary 
repaft  for  the  confolation  and 
benefit  of  mankind  in  every 
various  ftate  and  condition. 

§ — 53  After  Jefus  had 
delivered  thefe  parables,  he 
removed  from  thofe  parts, 

54  and  coming  into  his 
native  country  he  publickly 
taught  in  their  religious  af- 
femblies — and  dilplayed  fuch 
amazing  wiidom  and  profound 
erudition  in  his  difcourfes, 
that  his  audience  was  ftruck 
with  the  utmoil  furorife,  and 


faid  one  to  another  —  Where 
did  this  man  acquire  his  learn- 
ing— whence  did  he  derive 
his  fuperiour  abilities  ? 

Cf^  Do  not  we  know  him 
to  be  born  of  an  ignoble  and 
obfcure  family? — Is  not  his 
father  a  carpenter  ? — We  all 
know  his  mother  Mary,  and 
his  brothers  James  and  John, 
Simon  and  Jude. 

^6  His  fifcers  too  are  all 
fettled  among  us — How  is  it, 
therefore  that  a  psrfon  of  fuch 
mean  parentage,  and  deftitute 
ofaliberaleducarion,  comes  to 
be  endowed,  all  on  a  fudden, 
with  fuch  ftupendous  learn- 
ing and  aftonifliing  gifts  ? 

1=,"]  Thefe  confiderations 
led  them  to  conceive  the  moft 
violent  and  invincible  preju- 
dices againft  him — But  upon 
this  unreafonable  difgufl  and 
abfurd  conclufion  of  his  coun- 
trymen, Jefus  made  the  fol- 
lowing obfervation — A  pub- 
lick  inftruftor  is  never  fo  lure 
to  meet  with  difrefpeftful 
treatment,  as  among  his  re- 
lations and  acquaintance. 

58  And  he  worked  but 
few  miracles  among  them, 
becaufe  he  judged  it  morally 
impofiible  to  remove  their  in- 
veterate prejudices,  and  to 
convince  fuch  obftinate  and 
incorrigible  incredulity. 


Vol.  I. 


C  H  A  P. 


The  Hiflory 


CHAP.    XIV. 


THE    fame 
i 


of  tlicTe 
illuftrioLis  miracles 
had  now  reached  Herod's 
court,  who  was  the  Tetrarch 
of  Gahlee,  and  raifcd  pain- 
ful emotions  in  his  mind. 

2  Greatly  alarmed,  there- 
fore, and  being  flung  with 
a  fenfe  of  confcious  guilt,  he 
told  his  courtiers  —  that  this 
perfon,  who  did  fuch  ftupen- 
duous  things,  could  be  no 
other  than  John  the  Baptilt, 
whom  he  had  lately  behead- 
ed, but  whom  divine  provi- 
dence had  now  reftored  to 
life. 

3  For  upon  John's  freely 
remonltrating  againft  his  in- 
tended marriage  with  Hero- 
dias  his  brother  Philip's  lady, 
Herod  was  fo  exalperated, 
that  he  immediately  ordered 
him  to  be  appreh.ended  and 
loaded  with  chains  •, 

4  Merely  becaufe  John 
had  the  undaunted  refolution 
to  aflure  him  —  That  fuch  a 
marriage  would  be  a  flao-rant 
violation  of  the  law  of  God. 

5  This  bold  declaration  in- 
cenfed  the  tyrant  to  fuch  a 
degree,  that  nothing  would 
content  him  but  his  blood — 
and  this  he  would  inftantly 
have  fhed,  but  he  was  afraid 
that  by  this  ftep  he  fhould  in- 
cur the  odium  of  his  fubjeds 


^  J  E  s  u  s         Chap.  xiv. 

— for  John  was  efteemed  by 
the  majority  as  a  moft  illuf- 
trious  prophet. 

6  VVhileJohn  was  under  con- 
finement, it  happened  that  He- 
rod celebrated  his  birth  day 
with  great  pomp  and  magni- 
ficence  on  which  occafion 

the  daughter  of  Herodias 
danced  before  the  company 
with  fuch  inimitable  grace  and 
elegance,  as  filled  Herod  with 
ecftacies  of  rapture. 

7  So  that  he  was  tranfport- 
ed  into  fuch  extravagancies, 
as  to  promife  by  the  moft 
iblemn  adjuration,  before  the 
whole  aflembly  —  that  what 
flie  fhould  afl<:  of  him,  he 
would  give  her,  whatever  it 
fhould  be. 

8  The  young  laJy^  hearing 
this  afTeveration,  and  being 
previoudy  taught  and  infti- 
gated  by  her  mother,  laid 
dircftly — Give  me  then.  Sir, 
the  head  of  the  Baptifl. 

9  Upon  fuch  an  unexpe(5l- 
ed  demand  the  king  was 
thrown  into  the  utmofl  per- 
turbation and  grief  for  the 
rafli  promife  he  had  made — 
and  would  gladly  have  re- 
tracted it but  the  folemn 

obligation,  with  which  he 
had  bound  himfelf,  and  a 
regard  to  the  company,  who 
had  all  been  witnefTes  of  it, 
incited  him  to  give  orders, 
that  her  requefl  fliould  im- 
mediately be  granted. 

10  An 


chap.  XIV.  by   Mat 

10  An  executioner,  there- 
fore, was  diipatched  to  the 
prilbn  in  which  he  lay,  to  be- 
head him. 

11  And  his  head  was 
brought  into  the  room  upon 
a  large  dilh,  and  prelented  to 
the  young  lady,  who  carried 
it  to  her  mother. 

12  When  John's  difciples 
were  acquainted  with  the  fate 
of  their  mailer,  they  went  to 

the  prifon took   up  his 

corpfe  and  buried  it— -then 
came  and  informed  Jefus  of 
all  that  had  happened. 

§ — 13  When  Jefus  receiv- 
ed this  account,  he  removed 
from  that  part  of  the  country 
— ■ — and  crofling  the  lake, 
fought  a  private  and  fequell- 
ered  retreat  —  But  when  the 
populace  underftood  where 
he  had  retired,  they  repaired 
by  land  to  the  place,  from 
all  the  neighbouring  towns, 
in  a  prodigious  concourfe. 

14  Jefus  beholding  fuch  an 
immenfe  crowd  collected  to- 
gether, was  affedled  with  the 
tendereft  fympathy  and  com- 
paffion,  and  healed  all  among 
them,  who  laboured  under 
any  indifpofition. 

\c.  But  the  eveninor  now 
advancing,  the  difciples  came 

to  him  and  laid This  is  a 

v/afte  and  inhofpitabie  coun- 
try, in  which  we  now  are, 
and  at  a  confiderable  diftance 


T  H  E  W. 


51 

inhabited   place — 
proper,  therefore, 


from  any 

it  will,  be 

for  you  to  difmifs  the  multi 

tude  before  the  clofe  of  the 

day,  that  they  may  have  time 

to  reach  the  villages  and  get 

refrefliment. 

1 6  To  whom  Jefus  replied 

There  is  no  neceffity  to 

difmifs  them  —  furnifh  provi- 
fions  for  them  yourfelves. 

17  That  is  impofnble,  they 


anfwered- -for  all  our  Hock 

amounts  only  to  five  loaves 
and  tw^o  fifhes. 

1 8  Thele  he  ordered  them 
to  bring  to  him. 

19  Then  commanding  the 
multitude  to  fit  down  upon 
the  grafs  in  regular  and  uni- 
form rows,  he  took  the  five 
loaves  and  the  two  fifiies  into 
his  hands,  directed  his  eyes 
to  heaven,  and  devoutly  blef- 
fed  God— after  this  \\z  broke 

them -diftributed  them  to 

his  difciples — and  the  difci- 
ples to  the  multitude. 

20  But  this  fcanty  pittance 
was  fo  miraculoufly  multipli- 
ed by  an  immediate  exertion 
of  divine  power,  that  not  on- 
ly was  every  individual  plen- 
tifully entertained,  but  there 
remained,  over  and  above 
what  was  confumed,  frag- 
ments fufficient  to  fill  twelve 
baflccts. 

21  The  number  of  thofe, 
v/ho  were  thus  feafled,  with- 

.E  2  put 


52  ^he  Hiftory 

out  reckoning  the  women  and 
children,  prefcnt,  was  about: 
live  thoufand. 

§ — 22  Immediately  after 
tills,  Jelus  with  fome  difficul- 
ty prevailed  upon  his  diici 
pies,  who  were  unv/illing  to 
part  from  him,  to  take  a 
boat  and  crofs  over  the  lake, 
-while  he  difmified  the  people 
to  their  refpedlive  homes. 

23  His  difciples  beinp; 
gone,  and  the  vaft  affembly 
broken  up,  he  afcended  a 
neighbouring  mountain  in  or- 
der that  none  might  intrude 
upon  his  private  devotions — 
and  in  this  fequeftered  retire- 
ment he  continued  'till  nicht. 

24.  In  the  mean  time  the 
boat  was  in  die  midft  of  the 
lake,  lafhed  by  the  foaming 
v/aves,  and  aflailed  by  a  tcm- 
pelluous  and  contrary  wind, 
and  in  imminent  danger  of 
being  fvvallowed  up  in  the 
abyfs. 

25  After  they  had  con- 
flifted  with  the  ftorm  the 
greateft  part  of  the  night  •, 
about  the  fourth  watch  Jefus 
advanced  towards  them, 
walking  on  the  furface  of  the 
deep. 

26  The  difciples,  who 
were  in  the  vefiel,  defcrying 
an  human  form  gliding  with 
fufpcnded  Heps  over  the  a- 
byfs,  were  throv/n  into  the 
greateft  coniternation,  and 
concluded  it  was  an  appaii- 


of  Jesus         Chap,  xw, 

tion — fo  that  when  they  faw 
it  gradually  approach  nearer 
and  nearer,  fuch  was  their 
extreme  fear  at  laft,  that  they 
fent  forth  cries  and  flirieks  of 
terrour. 

27  Jefus  being  now  ad- 
vanced near  to  he  boat,  fpoke 
to  them  —  told  them  who  he 
was,  and  bid  them  banilli 
their  fears. 

28  Tranfported  with  this 
a/Turance  from  his  v^-ell  known 
voice,  and  elated  with  confi- 
dence, Peter  replied— If  it  is 
you,  command  the  v/aves  alio 
to  fuftain  my  feet,  that  1  may 
come  and  embrace  you. 

29  Jefus  then  ordered  him 

to    come   forward upon 

which  he  quitted  the  velTel — 
and  began  at  firft  to  advance 
v/ith  intrepid  fteps  upon  the 
furface  of  the  waters : 

30  But  hearing  the  loud 
roar,  and  feeling  the  ftrong 
impetuofity  of  the  ftorm,  he 
was  chilled  with  terrour,  and 
finding  himlelf  finking — he 

cried  out Save  me.  Sir, 

this  moment  fave  me! 

3 1  Jefus  then  immediately 
extended  his  hand  —  caught 
hold  of  him  and  faid — -Why, 
O  thou  incredulous  !  haft 
thou  now  diftrufted  that  mi- 
raculous power,  of  which 
thou  haft  feen  fo  many  inftan- 
ces  ^. 

32  They  both  then  enter- 
ed the  boat — ^and  inftantly 

the 


Chap,  xv:  '    by    M  A 

the  tempeft  and  the  billows 
were  heard  no  more,  and  a 
perfedt  calm  enfued. 

33  They  who  were  in  the 
veflel  feeing  this  amazing 
fcene,  proflrated  themfelves 
at  his  feet,  and  with  the  pro- 
foiindefl:  reverence  acknow- 
ledged the  divinity  of  his  per- 
fon  and  character. 

34  When  they  had  crofied 
the  lake,  they  travelled  into 
the  country  of  Genneiaret. 

^^  The  inhabitants  of 
which  parts  knowing  the 
dignity  of  his  character,  dif- 
patched  immediately,  upon 
his  arrival,  meflengers  into 
all  the  adjacent  countries — 
who  upon  this  information 
given  them,  brought  their 
fick  and  difeafed  to  him  in 
great  numbers  : 

2,6  Who  only  begged  to 
be  permitted  to  touch  the 
hem  of  his  garment — which 
being  granted,  they  were  in- 
ftantly  reftored  to  perfed 
health. 

CHAP.    XV. 

I  ABOUT  that  time 
^^  there  came  to  Jefus 
fome  of  the  Scribes  and 
Pharifees  who  lived  in  Je- 
rufalem  and  thus  fpoke  to 
him, 

2  What  induces  you  to' 
permit  your  difciples  to  vio- 
late thofe  wife  traditionary 
maxims,  that  have  been  hand- 


T  T  H  E  w.  53 

ed  down  to  us  by  our  religi- 
ous anceftors  ? It  fecms 

your  difciples  think  it  no 
breach  of  duty  to  eat  bread 
with  unwafhed  hands. 

3  To  whom  Jefus  thus 
replied — -Why  do  you  break 
the  exprefs  command  of  the 
great  God,  rather  than  fuper- 
fede  the  fuperftitious  traditions 
of  your  elders  ? 

4  For  example — God  in 
the  law  hath  folemnly  enjoin- 
ed upon  you  this  precept— 
"  Honour  thy  father  and  mo- 
ther— let  him,  who  treats  his 
parents  in  an  abufive  and  in- 
jurious manner,  be  put  to 
death." 

5  But  you,  in  direifl  op- 
pofirion  to  this  divine  com- 
mand, fay — That  whofoever 
dedicates  his  fubftance  to  pi- 
ous and  religious  ufes,  is  un- 
der no  obligation  to  relieve 
an  aged  and  neceflitous  pa- 
rent. 

6  In  this  flagrant  manner 
have  you  abfolutely  vacated 
and  annulled  the  plain  and 
exprefs  command  of  God — 
while  you  fcrupuloufly  ob- 
ferve  every  fuperftitious  tra- 
dition. 

7  What  fan6limonious  and 
deteftable  hypocrites! — excel- 
lently hath  the  prophet  Ilaiah 
chara6berifed  you  in  the  fol- 
lowing pafTage, 

8  "  This  people  approach 
me  with  demure  and  morci- 

E  3  fied 


54  T'/^f  Hiftory 

ficd  looks,  but  their  hearts 
are  not  at  all  en;?ao;ed  in  what 
they  utter : 

9  Vain,  therefore,  are  all 
their  pretences  to  fuperioiir 
fanftity,  while  they  rigoroufly 
infift  upon  the  traditions  of 
men  to  the  total  diiregard 
and  contempt  of  the  divine 
commands." 

10  Having  thus  fpoken,  he 
turned  to  the  populace  and 
faid — carefully  attend  to  the 
importance  of  what  I  am  go- 
ing to  declare,  and  diligently 
revolve  it  in  your  minds — 

11  It  is  not  any  thing  ex- 
ternal that  renders  a  perfon 
unclean,  but  impurity  hath 
-its  fource  folely  from  within. 

12  After  this  the  difciples 
came  near  him  and  laid — Do 
not  you  know  that  the  Pha- 
rifees  were  exceflively  exaf- 
pcrated  at  the  dh'courfe  you 
juil  now  levelled  againft  their 
traditions  ? 

1 3  Every  doflrrne,  anfw^r- 
ed  Jefus,  that  hath  not  the 
•fandlion  of  my  heavenly  Fa- 
ther to  fupport  it,  both  it, 
and  they  who  propagate  it, 
fhall  be  deflroyed. 

14  They  are  altogether  un- 
worthy your  concern  and  fo- 
licitude  —  they  are  blind  fu- 
perftitious  teachers  of  a  wil- 
fully deluded  multitude-: — and  I 


of  Jesus         Chap.  xv. 

foon  fhall  both  they  who  thus 
notorioufly  corrupt  the  facred 
precepts  of  God,  and  thofc 
who  fuffer  themfelves  to  be 
deceived  by  them,  moft  mi- 
ferably  perifh ". 

15  When  Jefus  had  fpokcii 
thus,  Peter  defired  him  to 
explain  to  them  the  meaning 
of  thofe  figurative  expreflions 
he  had  lately  made  ufe  of. 

16  On  hearing  this  requeft 
Jefus  faid  —  Do  not  you  un- 
derltand  my  meaning  .'' 

17  Do  not  you  confider, 
that  no  meat  whatever  that 
is  received  into  the  ftomach 
can  have  any  influence  upon 
the  moral  temper  and  difpo- 
fition  of  the  mind  ? 

18  Evil  difpofitions  alone 
defile  a  man  —  and  thefe  de- 
rive their  original  from  the 
heart,  which  is  the  fource  of 
adlion. 

1 9  For  from  the  heart  pro- 
ceed wicked  intentions,  mur-^ 
der,  adultery,  debauchery, 
theft,  perjury,  fcandal, 

20  Thel'e  are  the  things 
that  conftitute  moral  impu- 
rity in  the  fight  of  God — But 
merely  eating  with  unwadied 
hands  cannot  render  a  perfon 
polluted. 

§ — 2 1  After w a r  d s  Jefus 
removed  from  that  place,  and 
retired  into  that  part  of  the 


"  In  this,  and  the  preceding  vei  fe,  our  Liord  refers  to  the  deftru^Ion  of 
}erufalem. 

country 


Chap.  XV.  by    Mat 

country  that  lay  contiguous 
to  Tyre  and  Sidon. 

22  And  a  woman,  who 
was  a  Canaanite,  an  inhabi- 
tant of  that  region,  followed 
him,  crying  in  a  loud  and  im- 
portunate manner  —  O  thou 
fon  of  David !  pity  my  un- 
happy circumftances !  1  have 
a  daughter,  who  is  in  a  moil 
dreadful  manner  tormented 
by  a  dasmon. 

23  But  notwithftanding 
her  vehemence  Jefus  made 
her  no  reply  —  Upon  which 
the  difciples  came  to  him  and 
defired  him  to  difmifs  her,  for 
that  they  were  flunned  and 
teazed  by  her  clamour  and 
importunity. 

24  To  her  requeft:  he  thus 
anfwered  —  I  was  not  fent  to 
propagate  my  do6trines  a- 
mong  the  Heathens  — —  my 
miflion  and  miniftry  are  fole- 
ly  confined  to  the  depraved 
and  degenerate  nation  of  the 
Jews. 

25  She  then  advanced  up 
to  him  and  accofted  him  in 
the  moil  refpeftful  manner, 

faying Sir,  be  pleafed   to 

befriend  me  in  my  unhappy 
circumftances ! 

26  Jefus  faid  to  her — It  is 
not  proper  to  take  that  food, 
which  was  defiorned  for  chil- 


T  H  E  W. 


and    throw  it  to 


the 


dren, 
dogs. 

27  It  is  true.  Sir,  fhe  faid 
— but  yet  the  dogs  are  permit- 
ted freely  to  eat  the  crumbs 
that  fall  from  the  plentiful 
table  of  their  mafters. 

28  Struck  with  this  in- 
genious and  unexpected  re- 
ply, Jefus  faid — As  you  re- 
pofe  fuch  fingular  confidence 
in  my  power  to  alTift  you— — 
your  requeft  is  granted — and 
from  that  inftant  her  daugh- 
ter enjoyed  a  perfect  cure. 

§ — 29  Leaving  that  coun- 
try Jefus  removed  near  the 
lake  of  Galilee  —  where  hav^ 
ing  afcended  a  mountain,  he 
fat  down, 

30  and  there  collected 
round  him  an  immenfe  mul- 
titude, bringing  with  them 
perfons  who  were  lame,  blind, 
dumb,  mutilated  %  and  la- 
bouring under  various  other 
infirmities,  Thefe  unhappy 
creatures  they  laid  at  the  feet 
of  Jefus,  and  he  inftantane- 
oufly  healed  them. 

3 1  So  that  the  multitude 
was  feized  with  the  laft  afto- 
nifhment,  when  they  faw  the 
dumb  fpeak,  the  mutilated 
perfedl,  the  lame  walk,  and 
the  blind  reftor-ed  to  fight—— 
Struck  with  wonder  and  gra- 


**  KuAA-Kf  werethofe  who  wanted  a  limb,  and  is  a  quite  different  word 
from  p^wAsf  mentioned  in  this  catalogue  of  unhappy  cafes. 


E  4 


titudCi 


56  ne  Hiftory 

titude,  they  glorified  the  God 
of  Ifrael. 

32  Jefus  then  calling  his 
diiciples  to  him  faid — I  fin- 
cerely  commilerate  the  con- 
dition  of  thii    multitude  a- 

round  me they  have  been 

with  me  three  days,  and  are 
now  entirely  deftitute  of  food 

—  I  am  unwillino;  to  difmils 

o 

them  without  refrefhment, 
for  1  an^.  afraid  many,  being 
at  a  confidcrable  diftance 
from  home,  will  faint  by  the 
way. 

5' 3  To  this  the  difciples 
replied  —  how  is  it  polTible 
for  us,  in  fuch  a  wild  folitude 
as  tfvls,  to  pnivide  food  to 
entertain  fuch  a  prodigious 
num.ber  of  people. 

34  Jefus  then  faid — What 
provifions  are  you  able  to 
colledl  among  yourfelves  ?  — 

They  anfwercd -We  have 

only  feven  loaves  and  a  few 
little  fifiies. 

"^1^  Jefus  commanded  all 
the  crowd  to  fit  down  on  the 
graii>  in  regular  rows. 

36  This  done  —  he  took 
the  feven  loaves  and  the  fiilies 
— blclTed  God — brake  them 

—  gave  them  to  his  difciples 

—  and  ordered  them  to  dil- 
tribute  them  among  the  mul- 
titude, 

37  who  all  e.at,  and  were 
fati.sficd — and  the  fragments, 
that  were colle^Stcd  afterwards, 


of  Jesus         Ghap.  xvL 

were    enough    to    fill   feven 
hafkets. 

38  The  number  of  people, 
who  were  thus  miraculoufiy 
entertained,  without  reckon- 
ing women  and  children,  a- 
mounted  to  four  thoufand. 

39  Having  thus  refrefhed 
the  multitude,  he  difmiffed 
them  to  their  homes  —  and 
taking  boat  went  by  water 
into  the  country  of  Magdala. 

CHAP.  xvr. 

I  A  T  that  time  the  Pha- 
•*^  rifees  and  Sadducees 
came  with  an  intention  to 
make  trial  of  his  miraculous 
powers  —  and  thus  accofted 
him  —  Be  pleafed  to  fhow  us 
fome  grand  illutlrious  pro- 
digy in  the  fky  to  convince 
us  of  thy  prophetic  charafter. 

2  To  whom  he  thus  re- 
plied—  In  the  evening  you 
prognofticate,  from  the  rud- 
dy appearance  of  the  heaven, 
that  it  will  be  calm  and  fe- 
rene  weather  on  the  morrow. 

3  In  the  morning  you  fore- 
tel  that  the  day  will  be  rainy 
and  tempeftuous  from  the 
red  and  gloomy  afpeft  of  the 
heayens—— Hypocrites  !  ye 
pretend  to  great  accuracy  and 
certainty  in  prognofticating 
the  weather  from  the  appear- 
ance of  the  fky — and  are  not 
you  able,   with  the   greatefl, 

precifioi^ 


Chap.  xvi.         ly   Ma  T 

precifion  and  clearnefs  to  dif- 
cern  the  particular  marks  and 
features  of  the  preient  pe- 
riod ? 

j^  An  age  immerfed  in 
wickednefs  and  debauchery 
defires  me  to  difplay  fome 
illuftrious  prodigy  in  the  flcy 
for  their  convi<5lion — But  no 
fuch  flriking  fignal  fhall  be 
exhibited  before  it  —  except 
one  publick  prodigy  that  fliall 
be  fimilar  to  what  happened 
to  the  prophet  Jonah  —  Af- 
ter having  faid  this,  he  ab- 
ruptly left  them  and  ^with- 
drew. 

§ — 5  Crossing  the  lake 
with  his  difciples — when  they 
■were  arrived  upon  the  oppo- 
fite  fhore  they  found  they  had 
forgotten  to  take  provifions 
with  them. 

6  Now  Jefus  had  juft  charg- 
ed them  ftriftly,  faying 


Cautioufly  avoid  the  leaven 
of  the  Pharifees  and  Saddu- 
cees. 

7  This  advice, ,  therefore, 
they  all  interpreted  as  a  re- 
proof of  their  forgetfulnefs  in 
not  providing  themfelves  with 
bread. 

8  Jefus,  confcious  of  their 
miftakc,  faid — Why  do  you 
difcover  fuch  general  uneafi- 
nefs  and  painful  folicitude, 
merely  becaufe  you  have  for- 
gotten to  take  provifions  with 
you  .''——how  long  will  you 
continue  to diftrufl  my  power  ? 


T  H  E  W.  57 

9  Cannot  you  conclude 
that  I  am  able  to  fupply  your 
wants  in  a  miraculous  man- 
ner, when  you  refiedl  that  I 
entertained  five  thoufand  with 
five  loaves,  and  the  frag- 
ments that  were  collected, 
filled  twelve  baflcets. 

10  Kow  many  baflcets, 
alfo,  were  filled  with  the  fras- 
ments  of  the  feaft,  at  the 
time  when  I  diftributed  feven 
loaves  among  four  thoufand  ? 

1 1  Have  you  not  fagacity 
and  difcernment  enough  to 
difcover,  that  when  I  caution- 
ed you  againft  the  leaven  of 
the  Pharifees  and  Sadducees, 
I  did  not  intend  to  be  under- 
ftood  literally  .? 

1 2  Then  they  clearly  per- 
ceived, that  it  was  againft  the 
pernicious  leaven  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Pharifees  and 
Sadducees,  which  had  diffuf- 
ed  itfelf  through  the  mafs  of 
the  Jewifh  nation,  that  he 
advifed  them. 

§ — 13  After  this,  as  Je- 
fus was  travelling  in  the  coun- 
try about  C^efarea  Philippi, 
he  faid  to  his  difciples- 
What  opinion  does  the  world 
entertain  of  me  —  Whom  do 
they  fay  I  am  ? 

14  They  anfwercd — Some 
judge  you  to   be  John   the 

Baptift,  rcftored  to  life 

others  think  you   are  Elias, 

the  harbinger  of  the  MefTiah 

— v.'hile  others  lay  you  arc 

Jeremiah, 


58  ne  Hiftory 

Jeremiah,  or  fome  one  of  the 
antient  prophets. 

15  But  whom,  faid  he,  do 
you  im.agine  me  to  be  ? 

16  Thou  art,  Simon  Peter 
replied,  the  Mefliah,  the  fon 
of  the  ever  living  God. 

1 7  Upon  which  Jefus  an- 

fwcred Diflinguifhed  will 

be  thy  happinef-,  Simon,  fon 
of  Jonas— —Human  wifdom 
and  fagacity  have  not  enabled 
thee  to  give  this  teftimony — 
my  heavenly  Father  revealed 
to  thy  mind  this  important 
truth. 

1 8  I  folemnly  aiTure  thee, 
therefore,  that  as  thy  name 
fignifies  a  rock  —  upon  this 
rock  will  I  fix  the  bafis  of  my 
church  P,  and  all  the  infernal 
pov/ers  fhall  never  be  able  to 
fubvert  it. 

19  Thee  will  I  invefl  with 
the  illuftrious  honour  of  be- 
ing the  firft  preacher  of  the 

chrillian  difpenfation the 

great  laws  and  rules  of  which, 
when  firll  publillied  among 
men,  fliall  be  confirmed  and 
ratified  in  heaven. 

2Q  He  then  charged  his 
difciples  in  the  molt  ilrift 
and  peremptory  manner,  that 
they  would  not  divulge  it  to 
the  world,  that  he  w^as  the 
Mefilah. 

^ 21  From  this  time 


of  Jesus         Chap.  xvi. 

Jefus  began  to  declare  in  ex- 
prefs  terms  to  his  difciples — 
ihat  he  muft  go  to  Jerufalem 
— mufl  there  fufier  the  mod 
abufive  treatment  from  the 
magiftrates,  the  high-priefls, 
and  the  clergy— be  publickly 

executed but  fhould  be 

raifed,  b)  divine  power,  on 
the  third  day. 

22  Alarmed  and  confound- 
ed at  fuch  a  declaration  Peter 
took  the  liberty,  in  private, 
to  expoftulate  with  him,  and 
to  reprehend  him  for  predi6t- 
ing  to  himfelf  fuch  a  fate  — 
flying,  God  forbid,  that  you 
fhou'd  ever  be  involved  in 
fuch  fufi^erings !  — ImpofTible, 
thatthis  fhould  ever  befal  you  ! 

23  But  he  turned  fudden- 
ly,  and  faid  to  Peter — Thou 
art  an  adverfary  and  obftacle 
to  the  caufe  in  which  I  am 
engaged — Diverting  my  fuf- 
ferings  would  be  crulhing  my 
religion — Thou  fpeakeft  Hkc 
a  ihort-fighted  mortjl,  and 
knoweft  not  in  what  manner 
x\\t  o;reat  fcheme,  which  in- 
finite  wifdom  hath  planned, 
is  to  be  accomplifhed. 

24  Jefus  then  faid  to  his 

difciples Whofoever  will 

approve  himfelf  a  true  and 
genuine  profclfor  of  my  reli- 
gion, mull  renounce  all  world- 
ly intcrefls,  and  break  every 


p  Peter  was  the  firft  perfon  who  opened  the  gofpel  difpenfation.     See 
Ait.-^  x.'  ^ 


fond 


Chap.  xvii.  by   M  at 

fond  attachment,  when  they 
come  in  competition  with  his 
duty and,  after  the  ex- 
ample of  his  lord  and  mafter, 
fubmit  to  the  feverefl  fuffer- 
ings  which  it  may  feem  good 
to  infinite  wifdom  to  inflift 
upon  him. 

25  For  he,  who  by  mean 
tind  wicked  compliances,  is 
defirous  to  fave  his  life,  fhall 
lofe  it  to  all  eternity — But  he 
who  (hall  chearfully  lofe  life, 
rather  than  violate  his  con- 
fcience  and  duty  to  me,  fhall 
finally  recover  it  with  infinite 
advantage. 

26  For  could  a  man,  by 
the  proftitution  of  all  con- 
fcience  and  virtue,  fecure  the 
poirelTion  of  the  whole  uni- 
verfe — yet  what  benefit  would 
refult  to  him  from  it,  if  he 
was  at  laft  to  incur  eternal 
death !  Or  what  can  a  perfon 
fubftitute  as  an  equivalent  for 
the  lofs  of  immortal  life ! 

27  The  time  is  coming, 
when  the  MelTiah  fhall  make 
his  appearance,  arrayed  with 
the  majefty  of  his  Father, 
and  attended  with  a  glorious 
retinue  of  angels — and  he  will 
pafs  fen  ten  ce  upon  every  man, 
according  to  his  condudl. 

28  I  can  afTure  you  that  there 
are  fome  perfbns  now  before 
me,  who  fhall  live  to  fee  the 
fon  of  man  ufhered  with  mag- 
nificentpomp  and  triumph  in- 
to his  kingdom. 


T  H  E  w. 


59 


CHAP.    XVII. 


I  A  BOUT  a  week  after 
•^^  this  Jefus  took  Peter, 
James  and  his  brother  John, 
and  with  them  privately  a- 
fcended  a  lofty  mountain. 

2  Here  they  faw  his  per- 
fon undergo  an  aftonifhing 
transformation — for  a  luflre, 
equal  to  that  of  the  fun,  dart- 
ed from  his  countenance—— 
and  he  appeared  as  invefled 
with  a  robe  of  light. 

3  While  they  were  flruck 
with  this  amazing  alteration, 
they  beheld  Mofes  and  Elias, 
in  glorious  forms,  approach 
and  converfe  with  him. 

4  Tranfported  with  the 
pleafure  of  this  wonderful 
fcene,  Peter  cried  out — How 
happy  will  it  be  for  us  torcfide 
in  this  place  !  Permit  us  here 
to  ered  three  tents — one  for 
you,  another  for  Mofes,  and 
a  third  for  Elias. 

5  While  he  was  thus  fpeak- 
ing,  a  bright  radiant  cloud 
fixed  itfelf  over  them — from 
which  they  heard  this  voice 
diilinclly  and  folemnly  ifTue 
— This  is  my  fon,  the  object 
of  my  fondefl  affedions  ■ 
Hear  and  obey  him  ! 

6  The  difciples,  flruck 
with  the  majefly  of  this  di- 
vine voice,  fell  proftrate,  and 
funk  into  the  lall  conflerna- 


tion. 


7  But 


6o  The  Hillory 

7  But  Jefus  came  to  them, 
touched  them,  and  bad  them 
rife,  and  banifh  all  their  fears 

8  They  looked  then  a- 
round,  but  faw  no  perfon  but 
Jefus. 

9  As  they  were  defccnding 
the  mountain,  Jefus  ftrictly 
charged  them,  by  no  means 
to  divulge  the  glorious  fcene, 
of  which  they  hadjuft  been 
witnefTes,  'till  after  his  refur- 
rcdlion. 

10  The  difciplcs  then  afk 
?d  him  this  qucftion — Why 
do  the  Jewifh  clergy  fay  that 
Elias  mud  be  the  immediate 
predecefibr  of  the  Mefllah  ? 

1 1  The  fentiments  of  the 
Jewifli  dodors,  faid  Jefus,  are 
jufl — Elias  in  the  fcheme  of 
divine  providence  was  to  be 
the  harbinger  of  the  MefTiah, 
and  to  "^  prepare  mens  minds 
for  the  reception  of  his  doc- 
trines. 

12  Only  let  me  afTure  you, 
that  this  Elias  is  already  come, 
but  the  Jews  rejedled  him, 
and  abufed  his  perfon  and 
miniflry  with  every  wanton 
infblence  and  indignity — and 
they  will  expole  me  to  fimilar 
cruelties  and  fulTerinciS. 

i;^  Thedifciples  were  then 
convinced  that  by  Elias  he 
meant  John  the  Baptill. 

§— -  14  When  they  were 
returned  to  the  multitude  — 


cf  Jesus       Chap.  xvii. 

a  perfon  came  up  to  him  — 
and  then  fell  on  his  knees, 

15  faying  —  Sir,  have  pity 
upon  my  fon,  who  is  a  luna- 
tic, and  an  obje6t  of  great 
compafTion — for  he  frequent- 
ly falls  into  the  fire,  or  into 
the  water. 

16  This  unhappy  creature 
I  brought  to  thy  difciples — 
but  they  were  not  able  to 
heal  him. 

17  Jefus  then  reproved 
them,  faying — O  incredulous 
and  untraftablc  race  !  how 
longfhall  I  refide  among  you, 
before  I  convince  you  of  the 
dignity  and  extent  of  my  mi- 
raculous power !  How  long 
fliall  I  bear  with  your  want 
of  confidence  in  me — Bring 
your  fon  hither  to  me, 

18  He    was    accordingly 

brought- and  Jefus  by  a 

word  expelled  the  difeafe — 
and  the  young  perfon  was 
inflantaneoufly  reftored  to 
perfect  health. 

19  When  the  multitudes 
were  difmiffed — the  difciples 
came  to  Jefus  in  private,  and 
afked  him  the  reafon,  why 
they  were  not  able  to  ejcft 
that  daemon. 

20  It  was  folely  owing, 
he  replied,  to  your  want  of 
confidence  in  my  power- — * 
¥ov  did  your  faith  bear  the 
fmalleft   proportion    to    the 


s  See  the  Cambridge  MS. 


lingular 


Chap,  xvlii.         hy   "M.  a  t 

fingiilar  advantages  you  have 
enjoyed  of  eftabliihing  and 
confirming  it,  you  would  be 
able  to  effeft  as  aftonifhing 

operations as  caufmg  the 

mountains  to  delcend  from 
their  bafis,  and  transferring 
them  at  pleafure  from  place 
to  place. 

21  But  the  degree  of  faith 
requifite  to  expel  fuch  a 
dreadful  and  inveterate  difeafe 
as  the  prefent,  is  not  attained 
but  by  a  courfe  of  devotion 
and  abftinence. 

§ — 22  After  this,  as  they 
were  travelling  in  Galilee, 
Jefus,  in  order  to  prepare  the 
minds  of  his  difciples  for  fup- 
porting  thefliock  they  (hould 
fuftain  by  his  approaching 
death — faid  to  them — the  Ion 
of  man  is  eoino;  to  be  deli- 
vered  up  into  the  hands  of 
thofe,  who  third  for  his  blood. 

23  And  they  fhall  murder 

him but  on  the  third  day 

he  fhall  be  reftored  to  life — 
At   hearing   this   they   were 

greatly  alarmed and  the 

thought  of  his  death  funk 
them  into  the  profoundeft  de- 
jedtion  and  grief. 

24  Upon  their  arrival  at 

Capernaum the  officers, 

who  were  appointed  to  col- 
k(5t  the  annual  tax  to  defray 
the  temple  fervice,  came  to 


T  H  E  W.  6  I 

Peter  and  aflced  him  —  if  his 
mafter  did  not  pay  the  ufuai 
tribute. 

25  He  anfwered  in  the  af- 
firmative   and    coming 

into  the  houfe  to  Jefus,  was 
going  to  inform  him  of  what 
had  palled — but  Jefus  anti- 
cipated him,  faying — From 
whom,    Simon,     do   earthly 

princes  levy  tribute from 

their  fons or  from  other 

people  ^. 

26  From  other  people, 
certainly,  faid  Peter — It  fol- 
lows then,  refumed  Jefus, 
that  their  fons  are  excufed 
from  paying  any '. 

2  7  However  left  we  fhould 
incur  their  refentmtnt  by  our 
refufal — Go  to  the  lake — caft 
in  a  hook — open  the  mouth 
of  the  firft  fifn  thou  (halt  catch 
— thou  wilt  find  in  it  a  Sta- 
ter— take  it  and  give  it  the 
coUedors  for  my  payment 
and  thine. 

CHAP.    XVIII. 

I     A  BOUT  that  time  the 
*^  difciples  came  to  Je- 
fus and  faid Which  of  us 

will  be  advanced  to  the  high- 
eft  ftation  of  honour  and  dig- 
nity under  thy  reign  ? 

2  Jefus  ordered  a  little 
child  to  be  brbught  to  him — 


«■  Our  Saviour's  Arguraent  againft  his  paying  this  tribute  to  the  temple 
is,  becaufc  he  was  the  fon  of  that  king  to  whom  it  was  paid. 

which 


62 


which  he  placed  in  the  midll 
of  them, 

3  then  fpoke  thus — Let 
me  in  the  moft  folemn  man- 
ner affure  you,  that  unlefs 
you   renounce   all    temporal 

and  ambitious  viev/s and 

cultivate  the  harmlefs,  inof- 
fenfive  innocence  of  this  child 

you  will  not  be  deemed 

the    proper    fubjedis   of  the 
Meffiah's  kingdom. 

4  Whoioever,  therefore, 
fhall  acquire  the  neareft  re- 
femblance  to  the  innocence 
and  humility  of  this  child, 
fhall  fecure  the  moil  elevated 
ftation  in  the  gofpcl  king- 
dom. 

5  Whofoever,  alio,  from 
a  principle  of  affection  and 
love  to  me,  does  a  kind  and 
benevolent  office  to  the  mean- 
eft  perfon,  if  endowed  with 
the  temper  and  difpofition  oi 
a  child — I  fliall  acknowledge 
that  kind  office  as  done  to 
myftlf. 

6  But  whoever  fhall  de- 
fignedlylay  aftumblingblock 
before  the  meaneftxhriftian, 
and  feduce  him  from  his  ad- 
herence to  my  caufe  — had 
better  have  a  mill-tlone  fu- 
fpendcd  about  his  neck,  and 
be  precipitated  into  the  pro- 
foundefl  abyfs. 


'Tbe  Hidory  of  Jesus      Chap,  xviii. 

7  Unhappy  will  it  be  for 
the  interefts  of  mankind  that 
fo  many  obftruftions  will  be 
liid  in  the  way  of  truth  and 
chriftianity  —  for  the  weak- 
nels  and  wickedneis  of  the 
world  will  neceifarily  pro- 
duce many  obftacles  to  im- 
pede the   reception  and  pro- 

grels  of  the  golpel But 

dreadful  beyond  defcription 
will  be  the  final  doom  of  that 
man,  by  whom  fuch  obftacles 
are  firft  laid  ! 

8  Should,  therefore,  any 
of  thy  ftrongeft  appetites  and 
inclinations  tend  to  alienate 
thee  from  thy  allegiance  to 
me,  fubdue  and  mortify  them, 
with  whatever  relu6tance  it  is 
done — for  better  controul  thy 
moft  unruly  defires  here,  than, 
by  gratifying  them,  be  at  lalt 
expofed  to  eternal  death. 

9  Every  luft  and  irregular 
defire  that  would  inveigfe 
thee  from  thy  attachment  to 
the  goi'pel,  is  to  be  eradicat- 
ed from  thy  bolbm — for  bet- 
ter is  it  to  endure  the  great- 
eft  miferies  of  this  life  than 
incur  everlafting  deftru6tion. 

10  See  that  you  treat  not 
the  meaneft  chriftians  with 
contempt — for  I  affure  you 
the  molt  exalted  angels  are 
their  guardians  and  minifters*. 


«  By  thofe  r.uho  fa-v  the  king's  face  are,  in  the  Jewifh  idiom,  denoted 
the  moft  eminent  and  diftinguiflicd  perfonages  of  a  court.  Conlult  Either 
i.  14.  ivbo  faw  th  kind's  facCi  andivbo/at  tin  firft  in  the  kingdom. 

II  For 


chap,  xviii.         by    Mat 

1 1  For  to  fave  men  from 
deftrucStion  was  the  great  de- 
fign  of  the  fon  of  man's  com- 
ing into  the  world. 

12  Had  a  man  an  hun- 
dred fheep,  and  but  one  of 
them  happen  to  ftray  and  be 
mifiing — would  not  he  leave 
the  ninety  nine,  and  traverfe 
the  mountains  with  diligent 
and  anxious  care,  in  fearch  of 
it? 

13  And  fhould  he  be  fo 
fortunate  as  to  find  it — does 
he  not  feel  greater  tranfport 
at  the  recovery  of  that  one 
fheep,  than  at  the  fight  of 
the  whole  ninety  nine,  which 
had  not  ftrayed  ? 

■  14  Analogous  to  this  is 
the  benevolent  difpofition  of 
your  heavenly  father,  who  is 
not  defirous  that  the  moft  in- 
confiderable  chriftian  fhould 
finally  perifli. 

15  When  your  chriftian 
brother  hath  been  guilty  of 
any  thing  criminal  in  his  con- 
duct towards  you go  and 

in  a  private  converfation  ex- 
poftulate  with  him  in  a  calm 
and  difpaflionate  manner — If 
you  convince  and  reclaim 
him,  you  have  gained  your 
brother. 

16  But  if  he  refufe  to  ad- 
mit your  fingle  opinion  and 
determination  of  the  matter 
— take  with  you  one  or  more 
perfons  of  known  candour 
and  integrity— —that  by  the 


THEW.  6j 

probity  and  impartiality  of 
two  or  three  witnefles  the  af- 
fair may  be  fatisfadorily  de- 
cided. 

17  If  he  rejedl  their  un- 
exceptionable teftimony— — — 
refer  your  caufe  to  the  church 
—  if  he  refufes  to  abide  by 
the  church's  determination — 
regard  him  for  the  future  as 
an  irreclaimable  and  incorri- 
gible fmncr. 

18  I  can  faithfully  afiure 
you,  that  all  your  determi- 
nations on  earth,  if  confo- 
nant  to  the  rules  of  the  o-of- 

o 

pel,  fhall  be  confirmed  and 
ratified  in  heaven. 

19  Let  me  alfo  declare, 
thar,  when  the  fentiments  of 
two  of  you  (hall  coincide 
concerning  the  propriety  of 
any  petition  to  be  preferred 
to  heaven — that  petition  Ihall 
be  granted  by  the  indulgent 
Father  of  all. 

20  For  wherever  two  or 
three  are  convened,  in  order 
to  decide  any  important  af- 
fair refpeclino;  my  religion — 
I  will  prefide  among  them, 
and  affift  them  in  their  fincerc 
deliberations. 

§  —  21  When  he  had  fi- 
nifhed  this  diicourie,  Peter 
faid  to  him — How  often  fhall 
my  chriftian  brother  repeat 
an  injury  againft '  me,  and  I 
forgive  him  ^  — Shall  my  for- 
give nefs  extend  to  the  fe- 
venth? 

22  Not 


64  The  Hillory 

22  Not  feven  only,  replied 
Jefus ;  but  upon  his  finccrc 
penitence  and  remorle,  leven- 
ty  times  feven. 

23  With  regard  to  this 
fubjeft,  what  difpofitions  of 
lenity  and  mutual  forgivenefs 
it  is  the  defign  of  the  gofpel 
that  men  fhould  exercile  one 
towar^Js  another,  may  be  re- 
prefented  and  illultrated   by 

the  following  parable A 

certain  prince  was  defirous  to 
have  all  his  accounts  with  his 
fervants  regularly  adjufted. 

24  But  when  the  books 
were  examined,  there  was 
found  among  the  debtors  a 
man  who  owed  the  crown  ten 
thoufand  talents. 

25  The  payment  of  this 
fum  being  immediately  de- 
manded of  him,  he  was  dif- 
covered  to  be  in  very  indi- 
gent circumftances  —  Nuch  a 
difappointment  moft  highly 
exalperatcd  his  majefty — and 
he  inRantly  ordered  the  man, 
and  his  wife,  and  his  children, 
and  his  v;hole  fhock  to  be 
publickly  fold  —  and  the  mo- 
ney accruing  from  the  fale  to 
be  paid  to  him. 

26  The  mian  hearing  this 
dreadful  fentence  pronounced 
with  fuch  a  ftern  and  deter- 
mined look — funk  at  his  ma- 
jefty'sfect — arjd  with  the  moft 
moving  importunity  implor- 
ed a  little    refpitc,    and  he 


c/'  Jesus      Chap,  xviii. 

would  faithfully  difcharge  the 
whole  debt. 

27  The  heart  of  the  prince, 
at  the  fight  of  fuch  acute  and 
extreme  diftrefs  and  grief, 
melted  at  once  into  pity  and 

tendernefs Subdued  with 

companion  and  fym>pathy,  he 
ruflied   forward — raifed   him 

from  the  ground forgave 

him  the  whole  fum — and  dif- 
mified  him. 

28  The  man,  fcarcc  out  of 
the  royal  prefence,  happened  to 
meet  oneof  hisfellow-fervants 
who  owed  him  an  hundred 
pence — The  fight  of  whom 
fired  him  with  refentment — 
he  fprung  forward  and  feized 
him  by  the  throat,  crying — - 
this  moment  pay  me  my  debts. 

29  Terrified  with  his 
menaces  and  violence,  his 
iellovv-fervant  proftrated  him- 

felf  at  his  feet and  in  the 

moft  pathetic  language  fup- 
plicarcd  him  to  allow  him 
time,  and  he  would  honeftly 
pay  him  the  whole. 

30  But  the  other  was  abfb- 
lutcly  implacable — and  con- 
fined his  fellow-fervant  to  a 
dungeon,  'till  he  fhould  make 
him  latisfadion. 

31  The  other  fervants,  being 
fpedtators  of  fuch  unrelenting 
cruelty  and  inhumanity,  were 
ft  ruck  with  exceftive  forrovv 

and  fympathy and  going 

di  redly  to  the  prince,  related 

the 


Chap.  xix. 

the  ftory  to  him  with  all  its  af- 
fecting circumftances. 

32  The  man  being  imme- 
diately ordered  into  his  pre- 
fence,  the  prince  inflamed 
with  indignation  faid  to  him 

Thou  abandoned  (lave  ! 

did  not  I  freely  remit  thy 
whole  debt,  becaufe  thou 
foftenedfl:  and  iubduedfl  my 
heart  into  pity  by  thy  pierc- 
ing Iblicitations  ? 

33  Oughteft  not  thou  then 
to  have  expreffed  that  compaf- 
fion  towards  a  fellow-fervant 
— v/hich  I  expreffed  towards 
thee  ? 

34  His  lord,  fired  v/ith 
reientment  at  fuch  cruelty 
and  bafenefs,  ordered  him 
immediately  to  be  tortured 
and  confined,  'till  the  whole 
of  what  he  owed  fhould  be 
paid  him. 

;^5  With  the  like  feverity 
will  my  heavenly  father  treat 
you,  unleis  you  cordially  for- 
give, each  his  chriftian  bro- 
ther, your  mutual  faults  and 
failino;s. 

CHAP.    XIX. 

I  1X7 HEN  Jefus  had  fi- 
'  »  nifhed  this  difcourfe, 
he  removed  from  Galilee,  and 
travelled  into  thole  parts  of 
Judea,  that  lay  beyond  the 
river  Jordan. 

2  In  his  way  he  v/as  fol- 
lowed by  prodigious  multi- 
tudes— and  he  healed  every 

Vol.  I. 


fy  Matthew. 


6s 


diforder    that  was  prefented 
to  him. 

3  Here  the  Phariiees  came 
to  him,  and  with  an  artful 
defign  to  extort  his  fenti- 
ments,  propofed  to  him  the 
following  enfnaring  queftion 
— Is  it  lawful  for  a  man  to 
repudiate  his  wife  for  any 
thing  whatever  that  may  be 
difagreeable  in  her. 

4  Confcious  of  their  cavil, 
he  replied  —  Doth  not  the 
fcripture  inform  you,  that 
God  immediately  after  hav- 
ing formed  the  firll  pair  of 
different  fexes, 

5  pronounced  thefe  words 
— To  form  this  union  Ihaii  a 
man  forfake  his  parents,  and 
affociate  with  his  wife  —  and 
they  fliall  be  conneded  in  in- 
diffoluble  bonds. 

6  In  bonds  lb  indiffoluble, 
as  that  they  fiiall  not  be  con- 
fidered  as  two  diftind:  indivi- 
duals— but  as  one  body  Ible- 
ly  actuated  by  one  mind — 
What,  therefore,  God  hath  lb 
intimately  conjoined,  let  not 
man  diffoive. 

7  They  anfwered  —  Why 
then  doth  the  law  enjoin  an 
inftrument  of  divorce  to  be 
drawn  up,  and  the  woman, 
after  this  formality,  to  be  dii- 
miffed  ^ 

8  He  replied — Mofcs  per- 
fectly knowing  the  ferocity 
and  malignity  of  your  hearts 
permitted  divorces  in  order 

F  to 


66  The  Hiilory 

to  prevent  greater  evils ' — 
But  in  the  primitive  ages  of 
mankind  this  was  not  al- 
lowed. 

9  And  under  the  gofpel 
diipenlation,  vvholbever  fhall 
repudiate  his  wife,  except  for 
her  want  of  fidelity  to  his 
bed%  and  marries  anotiicr, 
is  guilty  of  adultery — and  he, 
who  marries  the  woman  thus 
difmifled,  incurs  the  crime 
of  adultery. 

10  The  difciples  being 
educated  in  Jewiili  prejudices, 
laid  to  him  in  private  —  If  a 
man  is  not  allov/ed  to  divorce 
his  wife,  except  only  for  a- 
dultery,  it  is  moil  abllird  folly 
in  any  one  to  marry. 

1 1  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
Continence  and  chaftity  can- 
not be  maintained  inviolate 
without  marriage,  except  in 
fome  few  particular  difcin- 
guiihed  inllances. 

12  And  thole  few  have 
either  received  from  nature 
conllitutions  mere  favourable 
to  this  virtue — or  have  fub- 
mitted  to  adual  caftration — 
and  there  are  others  who  from 


of  Jesus       Chap.  xix. 

a  perfuafion  that  the  encum- 
brances of  a  family  would 
render  them  lefs  extenfively 
ufcful  in  preaching  and  pro- 
pagating the  gofpel,  have 
relolutely  renounced  all  con- 
jugal endearments — Let  him, 
upon  whofe  inclinations  this 
virtue  of  continency  lays  no 
difagreeable  reilraint,  conti- 
nue, ifhepleafe,  to  praflife  it. 
§ — 13  Some  Jewifli  pa- 
rents at  that  time  brought 
their  children  to  him,  that 
he  might  lay  his  hands  upon 
them,  and  recommend  them 
to  the  blefiing  of  God  by  his 

prayers But  the  difciples 

prevented  their  approach,  and 
reproved  thofe  who  brought 
them. 

14  Jefus   perceiving  this 
faid — Forbid  not  the  accefs  of 

little  children  to  me for 

thofe  pcrfons  only  who  arepof- 
fefiedoftheir  native  innocence 
and  inoffenfive  difpofuions  arc 
the  worthy  fubjefts  of  the 
Mefliah's  kingdom. 

15  He  then  laid  his  hands 
upon  them  and  blefled  them 

I — Leaving  that  place, 


»  The  fituation  of  Mofes  was  exaftly  that  of  Solon,  h  y'^-v  act'ov  nv  ovk 
iwyayiv  tajfi'sLV,  ot/cTs  Kanciofxiav,  ooCm^m  (x\]'  auyy^zni  -TTAvrdL' 
rrcLffi  Kcf.i  Tttpct^ctf  7)11'  rroKiv,  aay-vzijri^&'  y^i'tJTai  ts  KATctainvat 
rruKiv  KcLi  ffvvap[xoaa<&a.i  rr^oi  ro   aptirov  —r-  oB-v  L(7T«pof  ipainQm  n 

e£p/7«f.     Plutarch.  Solon  p.  157. 

"  Romulus  alfo,  when  he  founded  the  Roman  republic,  inflituted  this 
wife  and  excellent  regulation,  h.^tmi  J^'.  kcci  i'oum  n  ste,  «J^  o-^ocTpG" 
/w«i'  i^iv  0  yvvauKi  (J.n  J'lJ'ai  a'TToKii-rrcjv  ctiJ'p-j,  ywauicf.  rT*  /*;/»$  gJtfrt- 
^t./^ — l^ot  yivQu^av.     Plutarch  Romulus,  p.  57  Ed.  Stcph. 

16  a 


chap.  xix-.  hy 

1 6  a  youth  approached  his 
perlbn  and  thus  accolled  him 
- — Condefcend,  good  inftruc- 
tor,  to  inform  me,  what 
virtues  I  iliall  exercife  in  or- 
der that  I  may  fecure  eternal 
life. 

1 7  Jefus  faid  to  him- 

Why  doft  thou  call  me  good 
— — -There  is  no  being,  but 
one,  who  is  poflefled  of  ab- 
folute  and   perfe6t   goodnefs 

■■ In  anfwer,  however,  to 

thy  queftion— — the  only  con- 
dition of  obtaining  a  blefled 
immortality  is  obedience  to 
the  divine  commands. 

18  Be  pleafed,  he  refum- 
ed,  diftinftly  to  mention  thofe 
commands — They  are  thefe, 
faid  Jefus  —  Thou  fhalc  not 
commit  murder — fhalt  not  be 
guilty  of  adultery — fhalt  de- 
fraud no  one  of  his  juft  pro- 
perty  fhalt  be  clear  of  the 

crime  of  falfe  accufation  : 

19  Thou  fhalt  reverence 
thy  parents  and  exercife  to- 
wards mankind  the  kindefl" 
and  mofl  benevolent  affec- 
tions. 

20  All  thefe  virtues,  re- 
plied the  youth,  have  1  ftre- 
nuouQy  cultivated  and  confci- 
entioufly  praftifed  from  the 
firft  years  of  rational  under- 
ilanding  and  refieftion — — in 
what  attainments  am  I  flill 
defc6live  ? 

2  I  Jefus  replied — If  thou 
arc  dcTu'OUs  to  reach  the  hi2;h- 


M  A  T  T  U  E  w. 


67 

efl  fummit  and  perfecftion  of 
virtue,  go  home,  fell  every 
thing  thou  poireffeft,  and  the 
money  accruing  from  the  fale 
diftribute  aniong  the  poor — 
By  this  aftion  thou  wilt  ac- 
cumulate the  amplefl  trea- 
fures  in  heaven — -and,  at  once 
burfting  the  bonds  of  all  te- 
cular  attachments,  come  and 
join  thyfelf  to  the  number  of 
my  followers. 

22  The  youth  hearing  this 
advice  turned  from  him,  o- 
vervvhelmed  with  grief  and 
dillrefs  of  mind— for  he  was 
pofTefTed  of  an  immenfe  for- 
tune. 

23  Upon  his  abrupt  de- 
parture Jefus  turned  to  his 

difciples,  and  faid What 

difficulty  is  it  for  a  rich  man 
to  become  a  fubjeil  of  the 
MefTiah's  king-dom ! 

24  Indeed  I  m.ay  aflerr, 
that  it  is  as  impofTible  for  a 
perfon  of  an  opulent  fortune 
to  embrace  the  defpifed 
caufe  of  chriftianity  as  for  a 
cable  to  pafs  through  the  eye 
of  a  needle. 

25  The  difciples  were 
greatly  alarmed  at  this  decla- 
ration, and  faid — Who  then 
can  be  finally  laved  ! 

26  Jefus  looking  with 
comipaffionate  tendernefs  up- 
on them,    anfvvered The 

impedim.ents  that  lye  in  the 
road  of  a  rich  maa's  profel"- 
fing  chriilianity  are,  hupnan- 

F  2  Iv 


68 


ly  fpeaking  infiiperable — but 
by  divine  affiftance  all  thefc 
obftacles  ir.ay  be  lurmount- 
ed. 

27  Peter  then  faid — But 
to  us  who  have  left  our  all  to 
follow  thee  what  future  com- 
penfation  will  be  given  ? 

28  I  afilire  you,  replied 
Jefus,  that  you,  who  have 
chearfuUy  deferted  all  your 
worldly  interefts,  and  adher- 
ed to  me,  fliall  at  the  grand 
revolution  and  glorious  reno- 
vation of  all  things,  which 
is  to  commence  at  the  con- 
clufion  of  this  life,  have 
the  moll  dilVinguiflied  ho- 
nours conferred  upon  you — 
for  when  the  fon  of  man  Hiall 
afcend  a  throne  of  moft  tran- 
fcendent  fplendour  to  judge 
the  world,  you  Ihall  fit  upon 
twelve  thrones  to  judge  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael. 

29  In  that  day,  whofoever 
from  a  confcientious  attach- 
ment to  my  caufe  hath  in  this 
life  voluntarily  relinquifhcd 
father  or  mother,  brother  pr 
filter,  wife  or  children,  houfes 
or  eftates,  fliall  be  mofl:  amp- 
ly recompenfedj  and  be  ele- 
vated to  a  very  eminent  de- 
gree of  eternal  blefiednefs. 

30  But  many  to  whom 
chriftianity  vizs"'  frji  offered 
fl)all  be  the    iq/i  to  embrace 


T/je  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xx'. 

it and  thofe  to  whom  it 

will  be  iiijl"  propofed,  will  be 
ihcfrji  in  admitting  it. 


Chap.  XX.  i  For  the  re- 
ception chriftianity  fliall  meet 
v/ith  at  its  firfl:  promulga- 
tion, may  be  fitly  reprefent- 
ed  by  the  following  parable 
— Soon  as  the  morning- dawn- 
ed,  a  gentleman  rofe  to  hire 
day  labourers  to  work  in  his 
vineyard. 

2  Having  found  a  num- 
ber he  agreed  to  pay  them  a 
denarius  for  the  wages  of  the 
day — and  fent  them  into  his 
vineyard. 

3  About  nine  o'clock  he 
vv^ent  again  into  the  market- 
place, and  found  feveral  o- 
thers  unemployed, 

4  whom  he  alfo  ordered 
into  his  vineyard,  and  pro- 
mifed  to  pay  them  what  was 
realbnable. 

5  At  twelve  and  three  in 
the    afternoon  he  went    and 

made  the  fame  propofals 

which  were  in  the  fame  man- 
ner accepted. 

6  He  went,  likewife,  a- 
bout  five  o'clock,  and  found 
a  number  of  men  iauntering 
about  the  market  in  idlenefs 
— and  he  faid  to  them.  Why 
do  you  confume  the  whole 
day  in  this  indolent  manner  ? 


•^  Meaning,  the  Je-.vs. 


'  The  Genules. 


7  There 


Chap.  XX.  by   M  a  t 

7  There  is  no  one  hath 
thought  fit  to  give  ns  any 
employment,  they  anfwered 
— Then  go  you  into  the  vine- 
yard among  my  other  labour- 
ers, and  you  iliall  receive 
what  is  juft. 

8  In  the  evening  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  vineyard  order- 
ed his  fteward  to  call  the 
workmen  together,  and,  be- 
ginning from  the  laft  to  the 
firft,  to  pay  them  their  wages, 
without  any  partiality  or  dif- 
tindion. 

9  When  thofe,  therefore, 
came,  who  had  been  employ- 
ed about  five  in  the  afternoon, 
they  received  a  denarius  a- 
piece. 

10  When  thofe,  who  had 
been  hired  in  the  morning, 
faw  them  return  with  fuch 
great  wages,  they  indulged 
the  moil  extravagant  joy  — 
imagining  that  their  pay  would 
vaftly  exceed  that  of  the  others 

but  how  great  was  their 

difappointment  when  they  re- 
ceived from  the  fteward,  each 
man  a  denarius ! 

11  This  fuppofed  injurious 
treatment  caufed  them  to  raife 
loud  clamours  again  ft  the 
gentleman. 

12  And  they  complained 
to  him  of  his  ufage  of  them, 

faying The  laft  labourers 

you  hired  only  worked  a  fin- 
gle  hour,  and  you  have  given 
them  the  fame  wages,  as  you 


T  II  E  \V.  69 

have  given  us  who  have  been 
fcorched  with  exceffive  heat, 
and  fuftained  the  long  and 
rigorous  toil  of  the  whole  day. 

13  Pie  turned  to  one  who 
appeared  the  moft  petulant 
of  them,  and  diredled  this  ];e- 
ply — Friend,  I  do  thee  no  in- 
juftice — Was  not  our  agree- 
ment for  a  denarius  .f* 

14  Take  what  juftice  en- 
titles thee  to,  without  repin- 
ing, and  calmly  acquiefce  in 
the  faithful  difcharge  of  our 
original  agreement — A  prin- 
ciple of  benevolence  difpofes 
me  freely  to  beftow  upon  the 
laft  perfons  I  hired  what  e- 
quity  obliged  nie  to  give  to 
you. 

1 5  For  is  not  the  difpofal 
of  my  property  in  my  own 
option — or  does  the  maligni- 
ty of  thine  heart  caufe  thee 
to  repine  at  the  generous  ex- 
ercife  of  my  beneficence } 

1 6  This  parable  is  defign- 
ed  to  illuftrate  what  I  afiert- 
ed  before — that  thole  to  whom 
the  gofpel  fliall  be  laft  pro- 
pofed,  ftiall  have  the  prece- 
dence in  dignity  and  honour 
— while  thofe  to  whom  it  was 
firft  ofiered,  lliall  be  degraded 
from  their  fuperiority — for  to 
what  a  populous  nation  is  the 
gofpel  now  freely  propofed, 
yet  how  inconfiderable  is  the. 
number  of  thofe,  whom  the 
love  of  truth  and  virtue  will 
induce  to  admit  its  evidences. 

F  3  §—17 


'JO  The  Hiftory 

§-—17  Jesus  after  this  let 
out  upon  a  journey  to  Jeru- 
lalem — and  on  the  road  tak- 
ing his  difciples  from  the 
multitude  inio  a  retired  place, 
—he  thus  addrelTed  them — » 

18  We  are  now  going  up 
to  Jerufalem,wherel  ihall  foon 
be  treacheroufly  betrayed  in- 
to the  hands  of  the  Jewifh 
high-prieils  and  Scribes,  who 
will  condemn  me  to  die; 

19  and  who  will  deliver 
me  over  to  the  wanton  cruel- 
ty of  the  Roman  foldiers,  to 
infult,  fcourge  and  crucify 
me — but  the  third  day  I  fnall 
be  raifed  from  the  grave. 

§ — 20  Then  the  wife  of 
Zebedee,  imagining  that  af- 
ter his  refurredion  the  grand 
temporal  kingdom  of  the 
Melliah  would  be  erefted, 
approached  him,  conducing 
her  two  fons  —  and  discover- 
ed, by  her  ceremonious  ad- 
drefs,  that  flie  was  defirous 
to  folicit  a  favour  from  him. 

21  Jefus  faid  to  her- 

What  kindnefs  is  it  you  ap- 
pear fo  defirous  to  obtain  ? — 
She  replied — Thefe  my  two 
fons  have  been  your  faithful 
and  infeparablc   com.panions 

I  entreat  you  that  you 

would  advance  them,  in  the 
kingdom  you  are  going  to 
eftablifh,  to  two  of  the  mcft 
dev  ited  and  illuftrious  Ibti- 
ons. 

22  Jefus  lliid  —  You  dif- 


of  Jesus        Chap,  xx* 

cover  great  ignorance  of  the 
true  nature  of  my  kingdom 
by  fuch  a  requeft  —  Are  you 
able  to  endure  the  trials,  in 
which  I  am  going  to  be  in- 
volved ?  —  are  you  able  to 
fuftain  that  dreadful  (hock  of 
fufferings,  which  I  mufb  foon 
fupport  ?  —  Our  fortitude  is 
equal  to  it— they  replied. 

23  He  continued  —  The 
fame  human  miferies,  indeed, 
that  will  foon  feize  me,  will 
alfo  invade  you  !  and  the  fame 
fufferings  and  perfecutions 
that  will  befal  mc,  will  alfo 
affail  you  —^  but  it  is  not  irj 
my  power  to  difpofe  of  the 
higheft  dignities  in  my  future 
kingdom — that  power  is  iblc- 
ly  vefted  in  the  fupreme  fa- 
ther of  all,  who  will  confer 
them  on  perfons  of  fuperior 
virtue  and  the  fviblimeft  at- 
tainments. 

24  The  other  ten  difciples, 
who  had  heard  this  converfa- 
tion,  conceived  the  moft  vio- 
lent refentment  againft  the 
two  brothers  for  this  ambi- 
tious attempt  to  fupplant 
them. 

25  Jefus,  confcious  of  the 
afpiring  views  by  which  they 
were  aduated,  collected  them 
into  a  body,  and  thus  addref- 
fed  them  — Potent  monarchs 
among  the  Heathens,  you 
know,  rule  their  fubjcds  with 
an  abfolute  and  defpotic  ty- 
ranny —  and  the  princes  and 

governours 


Chap.  XX.  4y   M  A  T 

p-overnours  of  the  feveral  flates 
andcomnniniticfs  among  them 
ufurp  and  exercife  a  Ibvereign 
and  uncoRtroulable  authority 
in  their  dominions. 

16  But  fuch  a  lufc  of  do- 
mination and  fondnefs  of 
power  Hiall  never  poffefs  your 
bofoms  —  For  among  you  he 
that  is  the  huhibleft  Iliall  be 
the  greateft  : 

27  And  he  who  is  delirous 
to  fill  the  mod  elevated  and 
illuftrious  ftation  among  you, 
let  him  pradlife  the  moft  kind 
fubmiffion,  and  the  moll  hu- 
mane condefcenfion, 

28  in  humble  imitation  of 
the  fon  of  man,  who  came  not 
into  this  world  to  make  man- 
kind his  vaflals,  and  to  enjoy 
the  magnificence  and  homage 
of  a  court  —  but  to  do  the 
kindeft  and  moffc  condefccnd- 
ing  offices,  and  to  furrender 
up  his  life,  that  he  might  re- 
fcue  ^  men  from  vice  and  de- 
flruclion. 

§  —  29  When  they  had 
left  Jericho  on  their  way  to 
the  capital,  he  was  followed 
by  a  prodigious  concourfc  of 
people. 


T  H  E  W.  71 

30  Here  two  blind  men» 
who  were  fitting  on  the  road 
fide,  the  moment  they  were 
informed  that  Jeius  was  paf- 
finrr,  began  to  cry  out  with 
the  greateft  vehemence — O 
thou  great  and  good  Meffiah, 
pity  our  condition ! 

3 1  The  multitude  difturb- 
ed  with  their  vociferation, 
reproved  them  and  ordered 
them  to  be  filent — But  the 
more  they  ftrove  to  fupprefs 
their  cries,  the  louder  they 
railed  them,  repeating  —  O 
thou  fon  of  David  !  pity  our 
condition  !  pity  our  wretched 
condition ! 

32  Jefus  then  ftopped,  and 
calling  them  to  him,  faid  — 
What  favour  is  it  you  fo  ear- 
neftly  implore  ? 

33  They  anfwered  —  We 
entreat  you,  Sir,  that  our 
fight  may  be  reftored. 

34  Jefus  aflecled  with  com- 
pafiion  touched  their  eyes, 
which  were  inftantaneoufly 
reftored  to  fight  —  and  both 
being  thus  cured  joined  his 
train. 


y  AoTpci'  and  Ai/rp*  are  indircrlminatcly  ufed  to  fignify  what  is  paid 
or  done  to  refcue,  free,  ranibm,  and  redeem  a  thing — The  men,  who 
were  taken  prilbners  in  the  battle  S'lyio  fwrpcoy  azunof  etvTovf  tk 
IIvppK.  Plutarch  Pyr.  p.  721 — But  ye  deliver  up  your  general  xvr^av 
T«f  ATOfKiuni.  Plutarch  Eumenes,  p.  IC84.  —  rov  /ttti;  Aurp*  7oi< 
KaCktiv  ej'eox.cv.  Plutarch  Alex.  p.  1266 — ->/tii9jk  utt^  ai/7«K  Awxpee 
iiKoffi  TrtAjtrra.     Plutarch  C^far,  p.  1298.  Edit  Steph. 


F4 


CHAP. 


72 


ne  Hlftory 


CHAP.  XXI. 

I   \X7  HEN  they  were  now 

'  »  advanced  on  their 
journey  as  far  as  Bethphage, 
fituated  at  the  foot  of  the 
mount  of  olives,  a  place  at 
no  great  diftance  from  Jeru- 
falem,  Jefus  called  two  of  his 
difciples 

2  and  gave  them  this  or- 
der  Go  into  that  village, 

which  you  fee  direftly  oppo- 
fite,  and  you  will  find  an  afs 
tied  and  a  colt  with  it — un- 
loofe  the  rein  and  bring  them 
to  me. 

3  And  fliculd  any  perfon, 
feeing  this  action,  aflc  you 
the  reafon  of  your  taking 
fuch  liberties,  tell  him — that 
your  mafler  hath  occaficn  for 
them — and  he  will  immedi- 
ately difmifs  you  \ 

4  The  following  words  of 
the  prophet  may  be  here  re- 
cited, and  applied  to  this  in- 
cident in  the  hiftory  of  Je- 
fus  ■ 

5  "  Inform  the  daughter  of 
Z'\ox\  of  this  important  news 
— Thy  king  approaciies  thee, 
riding  upon  an  afs,  cloathed 
with  placid  meeknefs  and 
humility." 

6  Receiving  this  com- 
mand, the  difciples  haftened 
to  the  village,  and'  found  e- 


of  Jesus        Chap.  xxl. 

very  thing  as  Jefus  had  de- 
fcribed. 

7  The  afs  they  untied — 
brought  it,  with  its  colt,  to 
Jefus — fpread  on  it  their  up- 
per garments — and  he  rode 
upon  it  from  Bethphage  to 
Jerufalem. 

8  Upon  this  mounting  it, 
the  majority  of  the  multi- 
tude, that  attended  him, 
fpread  their  mantles  along  the 
road others  were  employ- 
ed in  cutting  down  branches 
from  the  neighbouring  trees, 
and  fcattering  their  verdant 
foliage  wherever  he  pafled. 

9  And  the  populace  that 
preceded,  and  thofe  that 
were  in  his  train,  pierced  the 
air  with  their  triumphant 
fhouts,  crying  —  Welcome  ! 
illuftrious  Ion  of  David  !— • 
thrice  happy  thou  who  com- 
cft  inverted  with  the  choiceft 
gifts  of  the  fupreme  Jeho- 
vah!—  Hail  him  all  ye  celef- 
tial  powers ! 

10  Entering  the  capital  in 
this  {lately  pomp  and  magni- 
ficence, all  the  inhabitants 
were  greatly  alarmed,  and 
aflved  the  pafTing  crowds, 
Who  this  great  pcrfonage 
was,  whom  they  condu6led 
in  fuch  triumph  and  applauie  ? 

1 1  They  anhvercd — It  is 


»  Jefus  undoubtedly  knew  thjit  tliefe  were  the  property  of  fomc  perfon, 
on  whom,  or  on  whole  friends,   lie  had  conferred  fome  jingular  benetit. 

"  that 


Chap.  xxi.       .   by   Mat 

that  great  prophet,  Jefus  of 
Nazareth, 

§ — 12  With  thefe  accla- 
mations Jefus  was  efcorted 
to  the  temple,  which  he  en- 
tered, and  with  irrefiftible 
authority  expelled  all  who 
were  then  engaged  in  buying 
and  felling  in  the  court  of  the 
Gentiles — the  tables  of  thofc 
who  gave  to  ftrangers  Jewiih 
money  in  exchange  for  fo- 
reign, he  overturned  —  and 
threw  down  the  (landings  of 
of  thofe  who  publickly  fold 
vi6bims  for  the  facrifice. 

13  Telling  them,  with  an 
air  of  dignity  that  (truck  them 
with  terrrour — that  God  de- 
figned  the  temple  lliould  be 
appropriated  to  devotion  — 
but  that  they  had  converted 
it  into  a  receptacle  of  the 
mod:  profane  and  mercenary 
wretches. 

§ — 14  When  he  had  thus 
cleared  the  temple,  numbers 
of  blind  and  lame  perlbns 
came  around  him — wliom  he 
immediately  cured. 

15  But  the  higii-priefls  and 
the  Scribes  having  been  fpec- 
tators  of  the  whole  of  this 
amazing  fcene,  and  hearing 
the  children,  even  in  the 
temple,  making  the  facred 
dome  refound  with  their  ac- 
clamations of  hofannah  to  the 

fon  of  David they  v/ere 

highly  exafperated. 

J  6  And  they  faid  to  him 


THE  w.  73 

— heareft  thou  the  language 
of  thefe  children? — He  an- 
fwered — Do  not  you  recoiled: 
that  paflage  in  the  fcriptures 
—  "  By  the  mouth  of  babes 
thy  praife  fhall  be  celebrated." 
§ — 17  Having  fpoken 
thus  he  left  them  to  their  re- 
flexions on  what  had  lately 
pafTed — and  retired  out  of  the 

city  to  Bethany where  he 

flayed  all  night. 

1 8  In  the  morning  as  he  was 
returning  to  the  city,  he  felt 
on  the  road  very  painful  fen- 
fations  of  hunger : 

19  And  happening  to  fee 
a  fig  tree  at  fome  diftance, 
he  v/ent  up  to  it,  expedling 
fruit — but  found  only  leaves 
— upon  which  he  faid  to  the 

tree Mayeft  thou   never 

bear ! Immediately  upon 

this  imprecation  the  fig  tree 
withered  and  died. 

20  This  aftoniihing  fpec- 
tacle  ftruck  the  difciples  with 
furprize,  and  they  faid  in 
amazement  one  to  another— 
How  foon  hath  the  fig  tree 
loft  its  verdure !  How  inftan- 
taneoufly  hath  it  faded  ! 

2 1  Jefus  anfwered  —  Let 
me  folemnly  alfure  you,  that 
if  you  repole  an  unfliaken  con- 
fidence in  God  to  aflift  you 
in  propagating  and  confirm- 
ing his  religion,  he  will  en- 
able you  to  work  miracles 
greatly  fuperiour  to  this  -^ 
even  prodigies  of  power  as 

aftoniihing 


74  'T^^^^  Hiflory 

aftonifhing,  as  it  would  be, 
toioofen  the  loftieft  mountains 
from  their  foundations,  and 
precipitate  them  into  the  o- 
cean. 

22  For  whatever  you  fo- 
licit  the  divine  Being  to  be- 
llow, as  being  conducive  to 
the  credibility  and  promotion 
of  religion,  and  from  a  per- 
fuafion  of  his  infinite  omni- 
potence— you  fhall  obtain. 

§ — 23  When  he  had  en- 
tered the  temple  and  was  in- 

llru<5ting  the  people- the 

high-priefts  and  the  magi- 
ftrates  came  to  him  in  a  body, 
and  demanded  of  him  —  By 
what  authority  he  afted  in 
this  manner — and  who  it  was 
that  commilTioned  and  em- 
powered him  to  be  a  public 
inftruftor  ? 

24.  He  anfwered  them — I 
will  alfo  propofe  to  you  a 
queftion,  which  if  you  re- 
foive,  I  will  inform  you,  who 
it  was  that  delegated  to  me 
the  authority  which  I  ex- 
ert'  

25  Was  the  late  baptifm 
of  John  a  divine  appointment 

. or  was  it  a  contrivance 

merely  human  —  Having  for 
fome  time  agitated  this  quef- 
tion, they  faid  one  to  another 

If  we  tell  him  it  was  a 

divine    inftitution,     he    will 

directly  reply why  did 

not  you  embrace  it  as  fuch  ? 


0/"  Jesus       Chap.  xxi. 

26  and  if  we  tell  him — it 
was  folely  an  human  contriv- 
ance, we  expofe  ourfelves  to 
ihe  fury  of  the  populace,  who 
univerially  efteem  John  as  a 
moil  illuftrious  prophet. 

27  After  having  with  this 
caution  debated  the  matter, 
they  faid  to  him- — We  are  not 
able  to  folve  your  queftion. 
Neither  will  I,  replied  Jefus, 
fatisfy  you,  by  what  authority 
I  have  alTumed  my  public 
character. 

§ — 28  I  DESIRE  your  fen- 
timents  concerning  a  cafe  I 
am  going  to  recite— A  cer- 
tain perfon  had  two  fons,  and 
he  commanded  the  eldeft  to 
go  immediately  and  work  in 
his  vineyard. 

29  At  firft  he  peremptori- 
ly refufed — but  afterwards  he 
v;as  touched  with  bitter  re- 
morle  for  his  undutifulnefs, 
and  v/ent. 

30  The  father  came  to  the 
younger  and  laid  upon  him 
the  fame  injunctions  —  I  will 
go  this  moment,  anfwered  he, 
but  went  not  at  all. 

of  thefe   twQi. 


3 1    Which 


fons  fliowed  the  moll  filial 
obedience  I  — The  eldeil  un- 
doubtedly— they  faid.  Jefus 
replied — The  moil  abandon- 
ed and  profligate  fmners  com- 
mence fubjeds  of  the  gofpel 
kingdom  before  you. 

32  For  John  made  his  pub- 
lick  appearance  among  you, 

and 


Chap.  xxi.  by   M  AT 

and  delivered  the  mod  pure 
and  iacred  inftrudicns — but 
you  treated  him  and  his  ad- 
monitions with  contempt  — 
the*  perfons  guilty  of  the  moil 
atrocious  and  enormous  vices 
vt^ere  convinced  of  the  divini- 
ty of  his  milTion  and  doftrines 
■ —  but  the'  you  were  fpefta- 
tors  of  all  the  ftriking  evi- 
dences he  exhibited  in  con- 
firmation of  his  prophetic  cha- 
radter,  yet  you  abandoned  not 
your  vices,  nor  difcovered  the 
leaft  forrow  afterwards  that 
you  had  rejeded  him. 

§ — 33  Attend  to  the  re- 
cital of  another  fable A 

«;cntleman  laid  out  a  large 
plot  of  ground  —  planted  it 
with  vines  —  drew  a  ftrong 
fence  round  it — eilablifhed  a 
large  apparatus  for  preparing 

the  juice and  ered:ed  a 

tower  for  its  defence.  He 
after  this  travelled  into  a  fo- 
reign country — but  employ- 
ed a  number  of  hufbandmen 
to  cultivate  and  drefs  it  in  his 
abfence. 

34  When  the  vintage  ap- 
proached, he  fent  his  fervants 
to  receive  the  produce  of  his 
new  plantation. 

35  But  no  fooner  had  thefe 
delivered  their  meiTage,  but 
the  hufbandmen  began  to 
treat  them  with  the  fall  in- 
dignity and  cruelty — for  one 
^hey  fcourgcd — a  fecond  they 


T  H  E  w.  y^ 

ftoned and  a  third  they 

murdered. 

■^6  Thefe  not  returning,  he 
again  deputed  a  larger  num- 
ber of  his  fervants  to  make 
the  fame  demands — but  they 
ufed  thefe  alfo  with  the  fame 
infolence  and  inhumanity. 

37  At  lafl  he  fent  his  fon 

to    them,     faying they 

will  furely  not  dare  to  offer 
my  fon  any  violence — furely 
they  will  reverence  his  cha- 
rader ! 

38  But  on  the  firfl  fight 
of  him  the  hufbandmen  cried 
out  with  one  voice — This  is 
the  heir !  —  Let  us  immedi- 
ately afTaffinate  him,  and  feize 
on  his  inheritance ! 

39  Accordingly  they  all  at 
once  rufhed  upon  him — mur- 
dered him — and  cafl  his  dead 
body  out  of  the  vineyard. 

40  When  the  proprietor 
of  the  vineyard  himfelf  in 
perfon  comes — what  punifh- 
ment  will  he,  think  you,  in- 
fiidl  upon  fuch  bloody  and  a- 
bandoned  ruffians  ? 

41  He  will  affuredly  dc- 
ftroy  them,  they  anfwered, 
by  the  mofl  dreadful  and  ex- 
cruciating tortures — and  let 
his  vineyard  to  others,  who 
will  ferve  him  with  greater 
fidelity. 

42  After  they  had  given 
this  verdid — he  laid  to  them 
have  you  never  attended 

to 


76 


T!he  Hiflory  of  Jesus        Chap.  xxii. 


to  this  remarkable  pafTage  in 
the  fcriptures —  "  The  ftone, 
which  the  workmen  reje6led 
is  become  the  great  corner 
ftone,  and  hath  united  and 
confolidated.  the  two  fides  of 
the  edifice — This  is  by  divine 
appointment,  and  is  worthy 
to  excite  our  mofl:  profound 
admiration." 

43  Wherefore  hear  my  fo- 
lemn  declaration — Thofe  re- 
ligious privileges,  which  you 
now  enjoy  fiiall  be  wrefi:ed 
from  you,  and  beftowed  up- 
on other  nations,  v;hich  will 
make  a  proper  improvement 
of  them. 

44  And  whofoever  fliall 
ftumble  and  fall  upon  this 
ftone  fiiall  be  terribly  bruii'ed 
—but  he  on  whom  its  enor- 
mous weight  fliall  tumble, 
will  be  crufiied  in  a  moment, 
and  crumbled  into  atoms ''. 

45  When  the  high  pnicfts 
and  Pharifees  had  heard  thele 
fables  recited,  they  perceived 
they  were  levelled  at  them — 

46  which  exaiperated  them 
to  I'uch  a  degree,  that  they 
concerted  mealures  hov/  to 
get  him  into  their  power — 
but  they  dreaded  the  fury  of 
the  populace,  who  reverenc- 
ed him  as  the  greateft  of  pro- 
phets. 


C  M  A  P.    XXII. 

I  T  E  S  U  S  after  this  de- 
*^  livered  another  parable, 
in  which  he  reprefented  the 
gofpel  difpenfation  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner 

2  A  CERTAIN  Monarch 
made  a  moft  magnificent  en- 
tertainment, at  the  m^arriage 
of  his  ion. 

3  When  this  fplendid  feaft 
was  ready  to  be  fcrved  up, 
he  fcnt  his  iervants  to  haften 
thofe  who  were  previoufly 
invited  —  but  they  refufed  to 

4  The  king  again  difpatch- 
ed  others  of  his  domcftics  to 
thofe  who  had  been  invited, 
to  tell  them,  that  he  had  pro- 
vided a  fumptuous  entertain- 
ment —  had  prepared  every 
delicacy  and  elegance  that  his 
power  and  opulence  could 
command — and  that  he  beg- 
ged their  immediate  atten- 
dance, for  that  every  thing 
was  ready. 

5  This  prefilng  invitation 
they  afil:;cted  to  treat  with  the 

lall  contempt for  fome 

rambled  into  their  fields  — 
others  betook  themfelves  to 
their  fecular  employments. 

6  But  others  i'eized  his  fcr- 
vants  by  violence,  and  after 


'»  Our  Saviour  in  this,  and  in  the  41(1  Vcrle,  refers   to  the  deRruftion 
of  Jeruiaiem  by  the  Remans. 

offcrinor 


Chap.  xxii.         6y   yi  a  t 

offering  them  the  lafl  wanton 
and  cruel  inlults,  murdered 
them. 

7  When  the  king  was  in- 
formed of  their  diiobedient 
and  inlblent  conduct,  he  was 
fo  incenfed — that  he  inftantly 
put  himlelf  at  the  head  of  his 
troops,  flew  the  murderers, 
and  laid  their  city  in  aihes. 

8  His  refentments  being 
fatiated — he  calls  his  fervants 
together  and  tells  them — that 
he  had  prepared  a  feaft,  but 
that  thole  whom  he  had  firft 
invited  were  not  worthy  to 
fhare  its  magnificence. 

9  Go,  therefore,  faid  he 
into  the  highways — and  pro- 
mifcuoufly  invite  all  you  meet 
with  to  the  nuptial  fupper. 

10  The  fervants  receiving 
thefe  orders  difperfed  them- 
felves  into  all  the  publick 
roads  and  private  paths,  and 
collected  all  they  met  with, 
good  and  bad  without  diflinc- 
tion,  and  conduced  them  to 
the  palace — fo  that  the  hall 
was  filled  with  guefts. 

1 1  When  they  were  all 
feated,  the  king  came  to  take 
a  view  of  his  company — but 
foon  difcovered  a  perfon  a- 
mongfl  them  in  a  vile  and 
fordid  drefs. 

12  He  called  him  and  faid 
— Friend,  how  came  you  to 
intrude  into  my  palace,  and 
into  this  company,  in  a  dreis 
fo  unfuitable  to  this   genial 


T  H  E  W. 


^7 


folemnity  .?  —  He  was  ftruck 

dumb had  no  apology  to 

offer  for  this  difrefpedful  ne- 
gleft. 

13  The  king  then  called 
to  his  fervants,  and  bid  them 
bind  him  hand  and  foot — to 
drag;  him  out  of  the  room— 
and  to  expofe  him  to  all  the 
horrours    of   midnight    and 

darknefs there  to  deplore 

his  wretchednefs,  and  feel  the 
moll  dire  and  excruciating 
anguifh. 

14  For  great  numbers  are 
invited  to  the  glorious  privi- 
leges of  the  gofpel — but  the 
number  of  thofe  who  joyful- 
ly comply  with  the  invitation, 
is  very  inconfiderable. 

§ — 15  The  Pharifees,  who 
heard  this  parable,  left  him 
—  and  holding  a  conference 
rcfolved  upon  a  fcheme  which 
they  hoped  would  effeftually 
enlhare  him,  and  deftroy  his 
public  credit  and  reputation. 

1 6  Accordingly  they  fend 
fome  of  their  pupils,  along 
with  the  Herodians,  and  or- 
dered them  to  addrefs  Jefus 
in  the  following  manner  — 
Divine  teacher !  we  are  per- 
liiaded  you  have  a  conicien- 
tious  regard  for  truth  —  that 
in  fmcerity  and  plainnefs  you 
communicate  to  men  the  dic- 
tates of  infallible  wifdom  — 
that  the  fear  of  man  can  ne- 
ver induce  you  to  facrifice 
duty— for  the  moft  dignified 
perfonages 


78 

perfonagesare  nothing  to  you, 
who  have  fo  facred  and  invio- 
lable a  regard  for  truth. 

17  This  your  charafler 
hath  induced  us  to  requeft, 
that  you  would  give  us  your 
real  fentimcnts  concerning 
this  queflion — Is  it  lawful  for 
the  Jews  to  pay  tribute  to  the 
Romans,  or  not  ?  — 

1 8  Jefus  confcious  of  their 
bale  and  wicked  intentions, 
faid  — Why,  O  ye  crafty  hy- 
pocrites !  do  you  praftife  fuch 
infidious  arts  to  circumvent, 
and  draw  me  into  danger  ? 

19  Show  me  the  coin  that 
is  collected  —  They  brought 
him  a  denarius. 

20  He  faid  —  Whofe  head 
and  legend  is  this  ? 


21  They  replied — Casfar's 
— Then,  laid  he,  pay  to  the 
Emperour,  what  he  lawfully 
demiands,  and  to  God  the  du- 
ties he  requires. 

22  "When  they  heard  this 
anfwer,  they  left  him  —  afto- 
nifhed  at  the  manner,  in  which 
he  detefted  them,  and  avoid- 
ed the  fnare. 

§ — 23  The  fame  day  the 
Sadducees,  who  are  a  Jcwifh 
fe6t,  who  deny  a  future  ftate, 
came  to  him,  and  propofed 
this  query  — 

24  Illuftrious  inftruflor ! 
our  great  legiflator  hath  en- 
abled this  law — If  a  man  die 
and  leave  no  children,  his 
brother  fhall  marry  his  wi- 


T^he  Hiflory  of  Jesus      Chap.  xxii. 

dow,  in  order  that  the  name 
and  family  of  the  deceafed 
may  not  be  extinfl. 

25  Now  there  happened 
once  a'mongft  us  this  uncom- 
mon inflance  —  There  were 
feven  brothers — -the  elded  of 
whom  married  and  died  with- 
out children,  and  his  widow 
was  efpoufed  by  his  fecond 
brother. 

26  But  he  too  died — and 
all  the  feven  by  a  premature 
death. 

27  So  that  the  woman  fur- 
vived  them  all. 

28  What  we  defire  you, 
therefore,  is  this — Which  of 
the  feven  brothers  fhall  have 
this  woman  in  a  future  ftate— 

29  Jefus  anfvvered — You 
are  guilty  of  grofs  and  egre- 
gious miftakes,  arifing  from 
your  ignorance  of  the  fcrip- 
tures,  and  your  impious  li- 
mitation of  the  divine  omni- 
potence. 

30  For  in  a  future  ftate  the 
human  race  is  not  procreated 
— but  the  fpirits  of  gOod  men 
are  pure  and  refined  intelli- 
gences,   like    the    heavenly 


Angels. 

With  rep-ard 


fu- 


31  witn  regara  to  a 
ture  ftate — have  you  never 
ferioufly  confidered  the  im- 
port of  this  divine  teftimony, 
which  God  fo  frequently  ad- 
dreftes  to  you — 

32  "  I  am  the  God  of  A- 
braham,    the  God  of  Ifaac, 

and 


Chap,  xxiil.       by   Matthew. 


and  the  God  of  Jacob'* 

Certainly  God  is  not  the  go-- 
vernour  of  dead  infenfible 
matter  but  of  Hving  and  con- 
fcious  intelligence. 

33  When  the  multitude, 
who  ftood  around,  heard  his 
folution  of  thefe  difficulties, 
they, were  amazed  at  the  a- 
cutenefs  and  ftrength  of  his 
arguments. 

§ — 34  When  the  Phari- 
fees  heard  that  he  had  effec- 
tually filenced  the  Sadducees, 
they  coUeded  themfelves  to- 
gether in  a  body  to  difpute 
with  him. 

35  And  one  of  them,  who 
was  an  interpreter  of  the  law, 
intending  to  make  trial  of  his 
lagacity  and  fkiil,  propofed 
this  queftion — 

36  Which,  Sir,  is  the  moft 
capital  and  fundamental  pre- 
cept in  the  whole  law  ? 

37  Jefus  replied  —  Thou 
(halt  love  the  Lord  thy  God 
with  a  moil  pure,  conftant, 
and  unalienable  affedlion. 

38  This  command  is  fu- 
perior  to  every  other  for  im- 
portance and  excellency. 

39  This  alfo  is  fimilar  to 
it  in  eflential  dignity  and 
worth — Thou  fiialt  cultivate 
the  moft  benevolent  affedlions 
towards  thy  brethren  of  man- 
kind. 

40  In  thefe  two  funda- 
mental rules  all  the  various 
inftrudions  that  are  fcattered 


79 

in  the  law  and  In  the  pro- 
phets are  virtually  comprized. 
§ — 41  As  the  Pharifees 
were  (landing  together,  Je- 
fus propofed  to  them  this 
queflion — 

42  What  are  yopr  fenti- 
ments  concerning  the  Mef- 
fiah  ?  —  Whole  fon  is  he  ?-— 
They  anfwered,  David's. 

43  But  why,  faid  Jefus, 
does  David,  when  under  a 
divine  afflatus,  call  him  his 
fuperior  in  the  following  paf- 
fage— 

44  The  fupreme  Jehovah 

faid  to  my  Lord Be  thou 

invefted  with  univerfal  domi- 
nion and  authority,  'till  thou 
have  fubdued  all  thy  foes." 

45  In  what  fenie,  there- 
fore, is  the  Mefnah  David's 
fon  —  when  David  plainly  in 
this  palTage  calls  him  his  Lord 
and  fuperiour  ? 

46  This  difficulty  they 
could  not  folve  —  and  from 
that  day  defifted  from  all  far- 
ther attempts  to  enfnare  him 
by  infidious  queftions. 

CHAP,    XXIIL 

I     AT  that  tim.e  Jefus  di- 
^•^  redted   the  following 
difcourfe   to    the    m.ultitude 
and  to  his  difciples. 

2  The  Scribes  and  Pha- 
rifees have  fuceeded  Mofes 
in  publickly  teaching  and 
inculcating  the  duties  of  the 
law. 

3  Whatever 


8o  ne  Hiftory 

3  Whatever  precepts,  tljere- 
fore,  they  enjoin,  that  are  juf- 
tified  by  the  law,  confcienti- 
oufly  obl'erve  and  obey — but 
imitate  not  their  lives  —  for 
their  lives  are  rcandaloully  in- 
confiftcnt  with  their  initruc- 
tions. 

4  For  they  opprefs  men  with 
an  intolerable  burden  of  fe- 
vere  and  tedious  obfervances 
■—but  will  not  in  their  own 
pra6lice  conform  to  any  of 
the  precepts  of  this  ftrid;  and 
rigid  morahty. 

5  Their  whole  condu6l  is 
aftuated  by  an  infatiable  love 
of  oftentation  and  applaulc — 
it  is  merely  to  fecure  this  that 
they  make  their  phylacSteries 
fo  enormoufly  broad  —  it  is 
for  this  that  they  affe6l  to 
wear  fringes  to  their  garments 
of  fuch  a  fhowy  and  immode- 
rate length. 

6  It  is  to  gratify  this  infa- 
tiable pafTion,  that  they  afpire 
to  the  liigheft  feats  at  every 
public  entertainment,  and 
llrive  to  get  the  moft  diftin- 
guifhed  phices  in  all  religious 
affemblies. 

7  They  are  intoxicated  with 
the  fumes  of  fervility  and  a- 
dulation,  which  they  expeft 
fhould  be  offered  to  them  in 
places  of  public  relort — and 
their  inward  tranlport  is 
boundlefs,  when  men  addrefs 
them  with  tlie  pompous  titles 
of  Father,  and  Dodtor. 


of  Jesus        Chap,  xxiil. 

8  But  do  not  you  afTume 
thefe  vain-glorious  and  extra- 
vagant titles — for  the  Meffiah 
is  your  only  guide,  your  fole 
inilrudior  and  mailer — and 
your  common  title,  indifcri- 
minately,  is  that  of,  bre- 
thren. 

9  Do  not  you  honour  any 
earthly  inftrudor  with  the 
appellation  of,  unerring  guide 
—  for  you  have  only  one  in- 
fallible diredor  of  confciencc 
— your  heavenly  Father. 

10  Neither  do  you  arro- 
gate to  yourfelves  the  diftinc- 
tion  of  being  fupreme  heads 
and  leaders — for  your  only 
fupreme  head  and  leader  is  the 
Mefliah. 

1 1  For  under  the  chrifllan 
difpenfation,  he,  who  fhall 
(loop  to  the  moft  humane  and 
condefcending  offices,  fhall 
be  the  greateft. 

12  For  whofoever  fhall 
affr6l  fupercilious  airs  of  ar- 
rogance and  difdain,  fliali 
have  the  leaft  pretenfions  to 
the  true  chriitian  character — 
but  he,  that  is  cloathed  with 
humility  and  modefty,  is  the 
greateft  ornament  to  it. 

§ 13  Jesus  then  de- 
nounced the  following  woes 
upon    the  Scribes  and  phari- 

faical  doftors Woe  unto 

you,  ye  Scribes  and  Pha- 
rifees,  vile  and  abominable 
hypocrites  ! for  you  con- 
cert every  mcafure  to  prevent 

men 


Chap,  xxiii.         by    M  A 

men  from  embracing  chrifti- 
anity — You  will  not  be  con- 
vinced by  its  evidences  your- 
felves,  and  do  every  thing  in 
your  power  to  prevent  per- 
fons  of  good  difpofitions  from 
being  convinced. 

14  O  ye  hypocritical  Scribes 
and  Pharifees !  dreadful  will 
be  your  condemnation  ! — for 
you  opprefs  by  the  moil  ini- 
quitous extortion  the  widow 
and  the  orphan,  and  thinli 
to  hide  your  avarice  and  ra- 
pacity from  the  world  by  a 
fpccious  mafic  of  long  and 
rapturous  devotions  —  God, 
for  thefe  enormities  will  inflid 
upon  you  the  fevereit  pu- 
nifhmcnts. 

15  Woe  to  you,  hypocri- 
tical Scribes  and  Pharifees ! — 
for  you  traverfe  fea  and  land 
to  gain  converts  to  Judaifm 
— and  when  you  have  gained 
them,  foon  render  them,  by 
your  immoral  lives  and  fcan- 
dalous  examples,  more  pro- 
fligate and  abandoned  than 
they  ever  were  before  their 
converflon. 

16  Woe  unto  you,  ye  falfe 
erroneous  guides !  who  fay — 
if  a  man  fvvear  by  the  tem- 
ple and   violate  his  oath,  it 

is  not  criminal but  if  he 

fwear  by  the  gold  of  the 
temple,  he  lays  himfelf  under 
an  inviolable  obligation  to 
perform. 

17  \ain   and  abfurd   dif- 

VOL.  I. 


T  T  H  E  W.  8l 

tinftion  ! — for  which  is  more 
important — the  gold,  or  the 
temple,  which  it  only  ferves 
to  decorate  and  adorn  ? 

1 8  You  likewife  alTert  this 

He  that  fwears  by  the 

altar,  if  he  falfifies  his  oath, 
is  guilty  of  nothing  finful  — 
but  he  that  fwears  by  the  vic- 
tim that  is  upon  it,  is  indif- 
penfably  bound  to  the  per- 
formance. 

19  Egregious  folly!  —  for 
which  is  greateft — the  vidim, 
or  the  altar  which  gives  it  its 
facrednefs. 

20  In  oaths,  all  fubtil  and 
evafive  dillin6lions  are  of  no 
avail — for  he  who  fwears  by 
the  altar,  Iwears  by  it  and 
all  the  facred  offerings  that 
are  devoted  to  God  on  it. 

21  And  an  adjuration  by 
the  temple  is  a  folemn  adju- 
ration by  him  who  poffeiies 
it. 

22  And  he  vv'ho  appeals  to 
heaven  for  the  truth  of  his 
alTertions,  appeals  to  God, 
who  fupremely  dwells  there. 

23  O  hypocritical  Scribes 
and  Pharifees !  dreadful  be- 
yond defcription  will  be  your 
future  mifery  —  for  you  are 
mod  religioully  fcrupulous  in 
performing  all  the  little  nice- 
ties of  the  ceremonial  law, 
and  with  a  moll  pun6lilious 
exadlnefs  mark  the  tithe  of 
mint,  anifeand  cummin — but 
the  more  impori:ant  duties  of 

G  the 


S2 


'The  Hillory  of  Jesus       Chap,  xxiii. 


the  law,  jufllcc,  compafiion, 
and  fidelity,  entirely  difregard 

—  Thefe  you  ought  to  have 
made  the  great  tundamental 
rules  of  your  obedience,  at 
the  fame  time  thac  you  omit- 
ted not  the  pofitivc  injunc- 
tions. 

24  JVUferable  inftruclors ! 
who  pick  out  the  imaileft  in- 
fect, but  fwallow  down  the 
largeft. 

25  Woe  unto  you,  ye  hy- 
pocritical Scribes  and  Phari- 
fees !  —  In  your  external  be- 
haviour you  exhibit  to  the 
v/orld  a  fplendid  appearance 

—  the  moil  confummate  pu- 
rity and  decency  of  manners 

—  but  your  interior  is  black 
and  deformed  with  the  moft 
rapacious,  intemperate,  and 
depraved  dcfires. 

26  Thou  abandoned  Pha- 
rifee,  firfl  introduce  elegance 
and  purity  into  thine  internal 
dilpofitions,  that  thy  exterior 
afbions  may  be  nothing  but 
the  pure  refledled  image  of 
a  good  heart. 

27  Woe  unto  you,  O  ye 
Scribes  and  Pharifees  !  Plow 
deteftable  is  your  hypocrify  ! 

You  refemble  plaiftered 

monuments,  which  outward- 
ly appear  beautiful — but  in- 
wardly are  full  of  putrifadlion 
and  horrour. 

28  Like  thefe,  you  appear 


to  men  to  be  mirrours  of  fanc- 
tity  and  juftice — while  your 
hearts  are  replete  with  dilTi- 
mulation  and  all  iniquity. 

29  O  ye  Pharifees  and 
Scribes,  what  miferie*?  are  now 
impending  over  you  for  your 
hypocrily  and  atrocious  vices 

You  build  magnificent 

tombs  for  your  martyred  pro- 
phets, and  decorate  the  fe- 
pulchres  of  deceafed  piety 
v/ith  the  moft  profufe  and 
coftly  ornaments ! 

30  And  thus  lament  over 
them — O  had  we  lived  in  the 
days  of  our  progenitors — we 
never  would  have  imbrued 
our  hands,  as  they  did,  in  the 
blood  of  fuch  glorious  refor- 
mers ! 

3  I  This  is  a  teftimony  that 
you  defcend  from  thofe  who 
murdered  the  prophets, 

32  and  you  have'  in  the 
prelcnt  age,  by  your  refilling 
the  ftrongeft  evidence,  and 
perfecuting  the  bell  men, 
compleatly  rivalled  all  the 
enormities  of  your  anceftors. 

33  Ye  monfters  of  cruelty 
and  difTimulation  !  how  is  it 
pofllble  for  you  to  cfcape  the 
moll  dire  and  excruciating 
torments  of  a  future  Hate  ! 

34  To  reclaim  you  from 
your  vices  I  fend  among  you 
perfons  endowed  with  mira- 
culous gifts,    and  fuperiour 


«  See  the  Camb.  MS. 


wifdoiTj 


Chap,  xxlv.        by   Matthew. 

wifdom  and  virtue  ^  —  but 
ibme  of  thefs  you  will  mur- 
der— fome  you  will  crucify — 
fome  you  will  fcourge  in  your 
fynagogues,  and  purfue  with 
implacable  rage  from  one  city 
to  another. 

35  So  that  upon  you  fhall 
be  revenged  all  the  blood  of 
the  prophets,  which  hath  been 
fpilt  from  holy  Abel  down  to 
Zacharias  the  ion  of  Bara- 
chias,  whom  you  cruelly  af- 
fafilnated  between  the  temple 
and  the  altar. 

36  I  aflert  it  with  the  great- 
tfl  Iblemnity — that  the  heavy 
punifhment  of  all  thefe  crimes 
fliall  be  inPiifted  upon  thi^ 
prefent  age. 

37  OJtrufalem,  Jerufalem ! 
thou  who  haft  murdered  lb 
many  prophets,  and  haft  fton- 
ed  to  death  fo  many  good 
men  who  were  fent  to  reform 
thee  —  for  how  many  ages 
have  I  ftrove  to  fave  thee 
from  ruin  with  all  the  anxi- 
ous care  and  tendci-*  folicitude 
of  the  moil  afreclionate  parent 
—  but  you  have,,obftinately 
refufed. 

38  For  this  your  incorri- 
gible difobedience  the  moft 
dreadful  deftrudlion  ftiall  o- 
verwhelm  your  city,  and  your 
country  fliall  be  depopulated. 

39  Nor  fhall  you  ever  a- 
gain  fee  me  prefent  among 


83 

you,  'till  the  time  that  you 
fay  —  Unfpeakably  happy  is 
he  who  is  a  profeftbr  of  the 
gofpel  1 

CHAP.   XXIV. 

I  AFTER  this  Jefus  go- 
•^^  ing  out  of  the  tem- 
ple, his  dilciples  came  to  him 
and  defired  him  minutely  to 
obferve  the  grandeur  and 
magnificence  of  the  edifice. 

2  Upon  this  Jefus  faid  to 
them  —  Survey  this  moft  fu- 
perb  and  ftateiy  ftrutlure  — 
yet  I  affure  you  that  this  whole 
vaft  fabric  fhall  be  fo  totally 
demolifhed,  that  there  fnail 
not  be  left  one  ftone  ftanding 
upon  another. 

3  The  difciples  alarmed, 
at  this  prophetic  declaration 
came  to  him  in  private,  as 
he  was  fitting  on  the  mount 
of  Olives,  and  faid — Tell  us 
when  all  thefe  dreadful  cala- 
mities fliall  happen,  and  the 
fure  figns,  by  which  \\c  fliall 
be  able  to  prcgnofticate  thy 
coming  to  inflid;  this  punifh- 
ment, and  the  confummation 
of  the  Jewifh  ceconomy. 

4  To  this  enquiry  Jefus 
thus  replied — Take  heed  left 
any  one  feduce  you  into  fatal 
errours. 

5  For  many  impoftors  will 
afTume  my  character— pub- 


*  the  Apoftles. 
G   2 


lickly 


The  Hiftory  o/'  J  e  s  u  s       Chap.  xxiv. 


lickly  proclaiming  thcmfelvcs 
to  be  the  MefTiah,  and  will  by 
thefe  arrogant  pretcnlions  im- 
poie  upon  many. 

6  See  you  be  not  intimi- 
dated when  you  hear  ot  wars, 
and  are  informed  of  bloody 
battles  and  invafions — for  the 
deftru(5tive  flames  of  war  jfliall 
rage  a  confiderable  time,  be- 
fore they  involve  this  city  and 
nation. 

7  For  one  country  fliall 
commence  hoftilities  againll 
another,  one  potent  kingdom 
asainft  another  i  and  diffe- 
rent  countries  fliall  be  diftrel- 
fed  by  famines,  defolated  by 
peflilences,  or  violently  fhaken 
by  earthquakes. 

8  All  thefe  are  but  pre- 
ludes to  the  grand  and  uni- 
verfal  cataftrophe. 

9  In  thefe  calamitous  times 
you  will  be  perfecuted  with 
unrelenting  rage,  be  held  in 
general  and  implacable  detef- 
tation  by  all  nations,  and  be 
put  to  the  moil  cruel  and  ig- 
nominious deaths,  merely  for 
vour  inviolable  attachment  to 
my  religion. 

10  In  thofe  unhappy  times, 
alfo,  many  will  conceive  dii- 
suft  againft  the  chriilian  re- 

ligion  and  apoftatize and 

then  in  the  mofl  perfidious 
manner  betray  and  perfecuce 
their  brethren. 

1 1  Several  impoftors  too  fliall 


then  utter  falfe   prcdi6tions> 
and  miferably  deceive  many. 

12  The  great  and  general 
prevalency  of  thefe  enormi- 
ties will  entirely  extinguifh 
the  love  of  religion  in  the  bo- 
fom  of  many  chriflians. 

1 3  But  he  who  through  all 
thefe  fcenes  of  perfecution 
maintains  an  inviolable  fide- 
lity to  his  profeffion  fhall  be 
refcued  from  the  miferies  in 
which  this  country  fhall  be 
involved. 

14  But  before  thefe  cala- 
mities overwhelm  it,  the  gof- 
pel  fliall  be  preached  through- 
out the  whole  Roman  empire, 
and  its  evidences  be  propofed 
to  every  nation. 

15  But  when  you  fee  that 
idolatrous  nation,  which  hath 
fprcad  fuch  univerfal  havock 
and  defolation  among  man- 
kind, encamp  round  the  ho- 
ly city  —  as  Daniel  hath  pre- 
di6led,  whofe  prophefy  de- 
mands every  reader's  ferious 
regard  and  attention — 

1 6  then  let  thofe  chriftians, 
who  are  in  Judea,  fave  them- 
iclves  by  a  precipitate  flight 
to  the  mountains. 

1 7  He  who  is  then  on  the 
houfe  top,  and  fees  this  vafl 
army  approach,  let  him  not 
flay  a  moment  to  take  any 
thing  out  of  his  houfe. 

1 8  He  who  then  happens  to 
be  at  work  in  the  fields,  let  him 

not 


Chap.  xxlv.  by   Matthew. 


85 


not   turn  back   to   take  his 
deaths. 

19  Deplorable  will  be  the 
fate  of  thofe  women,  whofe 
flight  will  be  then  prevented 
by  advanced  pregnancy,  or 
the  ruckling  of  infants. 

20  Earneftly  pray  that  this 
precipitate  flight  may  not 
happen  during  the  inclemen- 
cy of  the  winter,  or  on  the 
fabbath  day. 

2 1  For  the  Jewifh  nation 
fliall  then  be  overwhelmed  in 
fuch  dreadful  calamities  as 
never  happened  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  nor 
will  ever  happen  again  to  its 
final  diflTolution. 

22  And  fliould  this  horrid 
carnao;e  and  defolation  be 
continued  for  any  confider- 
able  duration,  the  whole  na- 
tion of  the  Jews  would  be  ex- 
tinft — but  for  the  fake  of  the 
chrift:ians  the  period  of  thofe 
terrible  diftrefies  fliall  be  but 
fliort. 

23  During  thefe  miferies 
if  any  one  Oiould  tell  you 
that  the  MefTiah  is  in  fuch 
a  place,  that  he  hath  made 
his  public  appearance  in  fuch 
a  town  —  pay  him  not  the 
leaft  credit. 

24  For  many  will  pretend 
to   be  the    Mefl^iah,  and   af- 
fume  the   charader  of  pro 
phets — exhibit  fuch  furpriz- 
ing  feats  and  aftonifhing  pro- 


digies— ^and  carry  on  the  de- 
luflon  with  fuch  cunning  ar- 
tifice and  fraud,  as  almoft  to 
impofe  even  upon  the  chrif- 
tians  themfelves. 

25  Remember  that  I  have 
given  you  this  previous  ad- 
vice. 

26  When,  therefore,  men 
fhall  fay  to  you  —  The  Mef- 
fiah  at  this  very  time  hath 
appeared  in  fuch  a  defart  — 
go  not  thither  to  examine  his 
pretenfions*—— Behold  !  the 
Mefliah  conceals  himfelf  in 
fuch  a  private  retirement,  on 
account  of  the  wickednefs  of 
the  Jews— treat  the  informa- 
tion with  contempt. 

27  For  the  fwiftnefs  of  the 
coming  of  the  fon  of  man  to 
deftroy  the  Jewifli  nation  fliall 
be  flmilar  to  the  rapidity  of 
lightning,  which  darts  from 
eafl:  to  weft,  at  one  fweep, 
through  all  that  intervening 
fpace,  in  a  moment. 

28  For  wherever  the  pu- 
trid carcafe  lies,  to  that  place 
will  the  eagles  colled  to  glut 
their  raging  hunger. 

29  Immediately  after  thofe 
dreadful  calamities,  fhall  the 
fun  be  fliroudedindarknefs — 
the  moon  fhall  become  a  great 
blank  in  the  midfl:  of  heaven 
—  the  ftars  fhall  drop  from 
their  fpheres — and  the  heaven- 
ly powers  fliall  be  fliaken  with 

G  3  the 


86 


T^he  Hlftory  ^/ Jesus      Chap.xxiv. 


the  mofl  violent  concufli- 
ons  % 

30  And  then  fhall  be  feen 
in  the  air  a  bright  himinour, 
appearance  of  the  Ton  of  man, 
fcattering  dellruflion  upon 
the  Jewifli  nation — at  which 
tremendous  fpeflacle  all  the 
tribes  of  the  land  of  Ifrael 
fhall  be  overwhelmed  in  the 
laft  terrour  and  diftrefs,  when 
they  furvey  the  Mefliah 
riding  in  triumph  on  the 
clouds  of  heaven  in  magnifi- 
cent pomp  and  irrefiftible 
power. 

31  He  will  then  difpatch 
his  mefiengers  with  the  clan- 
gors i'f  a  ihrill  trumpet,  and 
they  fhall  collect  Chriftians  in 
every  region  of  the  univerfe, 
making  converts  and  form- 
ing focieties  of  believers  in 
the  mod  diftant  climes. 

32  Learn  a  lelTon  of  in- 
ftrudion  from  the  following 

fim.ilitude When  the  fig-- 

tree  puts  forth  new  leaves 
and  tender  flioots,  you  con- 
clude that  fummcr  is  ap- 
proaching.' 

'2^'^  In  like  manner  when 
you  fee  all  thefe  concurring  to- 
kens, which  I  have  fo  minute- 
ly defcribcd — mod  certainly 
infer  that  the  impending  de- 


(Iruflion  will  very  fpeedily 
fall. 

34  I  folemnly  aflure  you 
that  the  prefent  race  of  men 
fhall  no:  be  defun51:,  before 
thiS  dreadful  inundatiopi  come, 
and  the  whole  of  this  prophe- 
fy  be  fulfilled. 

0^^  For  fooner  (hall  the 
earth  and  fky  be  reduced  in- 
:o  its  primitive  chaos,  than 
thefe  my  predictions  not  be 
fully  verified  and  accomplifh- 
ed. 

36  But  in  what  day,  or  in 
what  particular  feafon  of  the 
year  this  dire  invafion  fhall 
happen,  is  known  only  to  the 
fupreme  God — but  to  no  be- 
ing in  the  univerfe  befides 
him  —  to  none  even  of  the 
mofl  exalted  angels. 

37  The  times  in  which 
the  fon  of  man  fhall  come  to 
deflroy  this  impenitent  coun- 
try will  be  exactly  fimilar  to 
■d\t  times  in  which  Noah  lived. 

38  For  as  in  the  times  that 
preceded  the  fiood,  the  men 
of  that  age  were  immerfed  in 
the  excefies  of  all  fenfual  in- 
dulgence, and  continued  tra- 
verfing  a  circle  of  every  a- 
mufement  and  pleafure  even 
'till  the  very  day  that  Noah 
entered  into  the  ark  j 


«  The  downfall  of  Jcrufafcm,  and  of  the  Jewifh  ecclefiaftical  and  civil 
polity  is  here  defcribed  by  our  Saviour  in  the  fame  fublime  language,  as 
the  downfall  of  Babylon  and  Egypt  in  the  anticnt  prophets.  Compare 
Ifaiah  xiii.  10.  Ezck.  x.x.xii.  7,  3. 

39  3nd 


chap.  xxlv.         by   M 

39  and  never  once  llilpeft- 
cd  the  impending  inundation 
— 'till  it  fuddenly  rufhed  upon 
them,  and  Iwept  them  all  a- 
way — juft  fuch  will  be  the 
flate  of  things  when  the  Ton 
of  man  comes  to  deftroy  this 
incorrigible  nation. 

40  At  the  time  of  this  fud- 
c.^n  irruption  there  (hall  be 
two  perfons  in  the  fame  field 
—-a  good  Chriftian  and  an  un- 
believing Jew  —  the  one  of 
whom  fliall  be  involved  in  the 
general  deilruftion,  and  the 
other  fave  himfelf  by  flight. 

41  Two  women  fhali  be 
grinding  at  the  fame  mill  — 
the  one  fhall  be  flain,  the 
othe/  providentially  make  her 
efcape. 

42  .  Excrcife,  therefore,  a 
conPcc^nt  vigilance,  and  atten- 
tion to  the  admonitions  I  have 
given  you  — for  you  cannot 
tell  in  what  particular  feafon 
the  fon  of  man  will  come  to 
plunge  the  Jewifh  nation  in 
the  gulf  of  dcftruction. 

43  Confider  how  reafon- 
able  fuch  a  conduct  is  in  o- 
ther  cafes — for  example  — 
Had  any  mailer  of  a  family 
previous  information  at  what 
particular  hour  of  the  night 
his  houfe  would  be  attempted, 
he  would  certainly  fit  up,  and 
prevent  the  thieves  from 
breaking  in. 

44  With  the  fame  prudent 
vigilance  be  you  alio  ever  en- 


A  T  T  H  E  w.  87 

dowed  —  that  thefe  terrible 
calamities  furprife  you  not 
lunk  in  fupine  negligence  and 
inconfideration. 

45  Every  prudent  fervant, to 
v/hom  his  lord  hath  commit- 
ted the  care  of  his  domeftic 
auairs  during  his  abfence,  will 
ihowhis  fidelity  in  punftually 
executing  his  commands. 

46  And  happy  will  fuch  a 
faithful  fervant  be,  if  his  mafter 
at  his  arrival  finds  him  dili- 
gently employed  in  his  duty. 

47  He  will  alTu redly  re- 
ward fuch  induftry  and  faith- 
tulnefs  with  the  principal  di- 
redlion  of  all  his  fortunes. 

48  But  if  the  wicked  fervant 
fuffer  negligence  and  care- 
leiTnefs  to  fteal  upon  him, 
and  indulge  the  fond  imagi- 
nation, that  his  lord  will  de- 
fer his  journey  home  for  ma- 
ny years, 

49  and  in  confequence  of 
thefe  fuggeftions  begin  a 
courfe  of  profligacy  and  riot 

throw  every  thing  into 

confufion — abufe  his  fellow- 
fervants  with  the  moft  wanton 
cruelty — and  run  into  all  the 
exceffes  of  debauchery  and 
drunkennefs — 

50  The  lord  of  that  fer- 
vant will  fuddenly  come  up- 
on him  at  an  unexpedled  time, 
and  furprife  him  in  the  midft: 
of  thefe  fcenes  of  irregularity 
and  diforder, 

51  and  vv'ill   infil(5l  upon 
G  4  him 


S8 


The  Hiftory  cf  Jesus       Chap.  xxv. 


him  the  moft  exquifite  tor- 
tures*", and  precipitate  him 
into  an  horrid  confinement — 
there  to  deplore  his  wretch- 
ednels,  and  gnafh  his  teeth 
for  pain. 

Chap.  xxv.  i  The  ftate 
of  the  chriftians  on  the  fud- 
dcn  irruption  of  thefe  over- 
whelming calamities  may  be 
properly  reprefented  in  the 
following  fable  —  Ten  vir- 
gins took  their  lamps,  and 
went  in  procelTion  to  meet 
the  bridegroom, 

2  Five  of  thefe  were  en- 
dued with  prudence  and  dif- 
cretion,  the  other  five  were 
thoughtlels  and  inconfide- 
rate. 

3  The  thoughtlefs  took 
indeed  their  lamps,  but  had 
jiot  the  precaution  to  reple- 
nifh  them  with  oil. 

4  But  the  prudent,  mind- 
ful of  futurity,  carried  oil 
with  them  in  vefTels. 

5  Having  waited  a  long 
time  for  the  bridegroom,  and 
he  not  appearing,  they  alio,  fa- 
tigued with  tedious  expeda- 
tion,  funk  in  profound  re- 
pofe. 

6  But  lo  !  at  midnight  they 
were  fuddenly  alarmed  with 


a  piercing  cry  —  The  bride- 
groom, the  bridegroom  is 
coming ! — haftcn  to  meet  and 
conG;ratulate  him. 

7  Rouled  with  this  unex- 
pedied  proclamation  they  all 
got  up  and  trimmed  their 
lamps. 

8  The  thoughtlefs  then 
began  to  folicit  the  other  to 
impart  to  them  fome  of  their 
oil — telling  them  that  their 
lamps  were  entirely  extin- 
g-uiflied. 

9  To  theie  entreaties  the 
prudent  anfwered — that  they 
had  only  provided  a  fufRcient 
quantity  for  their  own  ufe, 
and  therefore  advifed  them 
to  go  and  purchafe  oil  of  thofe 
who  fold  it. 

10  They  departed  accor- 
dingly, but  during  their  ab- 
fence  the  bridegroom  came, 
and  the  prudent  virgins,  be- 
ing prepared  for  his  recep- 
tion, went  along  with  him  to 
the  nuptial  entertainment — r 
The  doors  then  were  imme- 
diately fiiut. 

1 1  After  Ibme  time  the  o- 
thers  came  to  the  door,  and 
fupplicated  earnellly  for  ad- 
milticn. 

12  But  the  bridegroom  re- 
pulfed  them — telling  them, 


f  It  will  appear  by  confultlng  tlic  following  paflages  that  J^iX'^'foiiza 
is  not  rellridcd  to /a-ivi/ig  a/unJer,  a.^  Whhby  and  others  contend,  ret 
uftn  .T8  crcouAToO-  J^ty^QToixt)QiV7<^.  Plutarch  Pyr.  p.  729.  Kvj^tf 
mi<^r/079iJ.iV6i.     Polyb,  p.  820.   Edit.  Calaub. 

he 


Chap.  XXV.  by  Matthew. 

he  did  not  know  them,  and 
would  not  admit  any  ftran- 
gers. 

13  Be  ye  in  the  fame  man- 
ner vigilant  and  watcliful — 
left  at  your  lord's  coming  to 
punifli  the  Jews,  you  be  fur- 
prifed  in  negligence  and  care- 
lefnefs,  and  be  involved  in 
the  general  deftruftion. 

§ — 14  The  gofpel  difpen- 
fation  with  regard  to  the  dif- 
tribution  of  future  rewards 
and  punifhments  may  be  thus 
reprefented  —  A  gentleman 
intending  to  vifit  foreign 
countries  called  his  fervants 
together,  and  entrufted  them 
with  confiderable  fums,  ex- 
pelling that  they  fhould  im- 
prove them  by  trade  during 
his  abfence. 

1 5  To  one  fervant  he  com- 
mitted five  talents  —  to  a  fe- 
cond,  two  —  to  a  third,  one 
—  to  each  according  to  his 
refpedive  abilities — After  this 
he  fet  out  upon  his  travels. 

16  The  fervant  then,  who 
had  received  five  talents,  im- 
mediately launched  into  bufi- 
nefs,  and  in  procefs  of  time 
by  his  fldll  and  diligence 
doubled  his  capital. 

17  In  like  manner  he,  who 
had  been  entrufted  with  two, 
gained  in  trade  other  two. 

1 8  But  the  fervant,  who  had 
received  one  talent,  went  into 
an  obfcure place — dug  an  hole 


89 

and  there  dcpofited  his  lord's 
money. 

1 9  After  many  years  were 
elapfed,  the  gentleman  re- 
turns home  from  his  travels, 
and  calls  his  fervants  before 
him — defirous  to  know  what 
improvement  they  had  made 
of  his  money. 

20  The  fervant  then,  who 
had  received  five  talents,  thus 
fpokc  —  Sir,  at  your  depar- 
ture you  delivered  to  me  five 
talents — by  care  and  induftry 
I  have  accumulated  other  five. 

21  His  lord  highly  elated 
cried  out  in  tranfport — Ami- 
able  condu6l !     confummate 

excellence! your  faithful 

condufl  merits  the  higheft: 
applaufe — enter  into  the  moft 
tranfcendent  happinefs  it  is  in 
my  power  to  bellow. 

22  He  then,  who  had  re- 
ceived two  talents,  approach- 
ed his  lord,  and  faid  —  Sir, 
you  originally  entrufted  me 
with  two  talents — I  have  like- 
wife  doubled  them  by  my  di- 
ligence in  commerce. 

23  His  lord  in  the  higheft 

raptures  faid Well  done ! 

thou  faithful  fervant!  thou  haft 
abundantly  ftiowed  thy  fideli- 
ty in  huft)anding  the  trifling 
fum  I  committed  to  thee^— — 
thou  ftialt  be  immediately  ad- 
vanced to  a  very  high  and 
illuftrious  ftation,  and  ftiare 
thy  lord's  felicity. 

24  Laft 


96 

24  Laft  of  all  he,  wlio  had 
received  one  talent,  drew 
near  and  fpoke — Sir,  I  knew 
you  to  be  a  man  of  implaca- 
ble feverity,  exacting  your 
unreafonable  demands  with 
unrelenting  rigour,  and  ex- 
peding  great  emoluments 
from  perfons,  whom  you  fix- 
ed in  no  capacity  to  fubferve 
your  intereils. 

25  Dreading,  therefore, 
your  ftern  and  inexorable 
temper,  I  went  and  hid  it 
in  the  ground — here  it  is  — 
I  reftore  it  as  I  received  it. 

26  His  lord,  fired  with  in- 
dignation at  a  condudt  fo  cri- 
minal, faid  to  him  —  Thou 
bafc  and  indolent  flave  !  —  if 
you  really  knew  me,  as  you 
fay  you  did,  to  be  of  a  temper 
fo  unrealbnable  and  unre- 
lenting, and  to  be  fo  inexo- 
rable in  my  demands, 

27  you  ought  to  have  taken 
care  not  to  incur  my  refent- 
ment  —  but  by  a  careful  and 
diligent  endeavour  fhould 
have  improved  the  talent  in 
trade  —  that  at  my  return  I 
might  have  received  my  mo- 
ney with  fome  additional  pro- 
fits, and  have  applauded  and 
rewarded  you  for  your  con- 
dua. 

28  The  gentleman  then 
faid  —  take  that  talent  from 


^be  Hiftory  of  Jesus        Chap.  xxv. 


him  direcbly,  and  give  it  to 
him  who  had  the  five  talents. 

29  For  every  one,  who  hath 
carefully  improved  v/liat  hath 
been  committed  to  him,  fiiall 
be  rewarded  with  a.  more  am- 
ple and  copious  affluence  — 
but  he,  who  hath  mifimprov- 
ed  what  was  entrufted  to  him, 
fliall  be  fatally  deprived  even 
of  what  he  originally  had. 

30  Take  you  therefore  that 
worthlefs  flave  from  my  pre- 
fence,  and  throw  him  into  a 
dark  and  difmal  mine  ^,  there 
to  deplore  his  wretchcdnefs, 
and  gnalh  his  teeth  for  ex- 
treme mifery. 

§ — 31  At  the  lad  day  the 
Mcffiah  Ihall  delccnd,  inveft- 
ed  with  matchleis  fplendour 
and  majefly,  with  a  bright 
and  numerous  retinue  of  his 
angels — and  then  fliall  afcend 
a  moll  magnificent  throne. 

32  Before  this  tribunal  all 
the  nations  of  the  univerfe 
fliall  be  convened  in  one  vafl; 
aflTembly  —  thefe  l.e  will  then 
feparate  into  two  diftinft  com- 
panies, in  the  fame  manner  as 
a  fliepherd  felc6ls  and  divides 
the  fheep  and  goats  into  two 
feparate  flocks. 

33  The  good  he  will  place 
on  his  right  hand — the  bad  on 
his  left. 

34  The  judge   will   then 


%  Difobcdient  and  worthlefs  {laves  were  ufually  punifucd  by  being  con- 
fined to  hard  labour  in  the  mines. 

r,  addrefs 


Chap.  XXV.        by   Matthew. 

addrefs  himfelf  to  thofc  on  his 
right  hand  with  I'milcs  of  ap- 
probation   Welcome !  ye 


91 


bleffed  of  my  father!  Wei 
come  to  the  everlafting  pof- 
feffion  of  thofe  blifsful  abodes, 
which  have  from  ail  eternity 
been  prepared  for  your  re- 
ception. 

35  For  -when  I  was  faint- 
ing with  hunger,  you  gave 
me  food — when  I  was  parch- 
ed with  thirft,  you  gave  me 
drink — under  your  roof,  when 
I  was  a  ftranger,  I  found  an 
hofpitable  reception. 

36  When  I  was  languifh- 
ing  under  cold  and  naked- 
nefs,  you  cioathcd  me — when 
I  was  fick  and  helplefs,  you 
took  the  charge  of  me  '^  — 
when  I  was  confined  in  pri- 
fon,  you  vifited  me. 

2,^  The  righteous,  alarmed 
at  fuch  an  unexpefted  dif- 
courfe,  will  then  anfwer  — 
Bleffed  Meffiah !  when  did 
we  ever  fee  thee  languifliing 
with  hunger,  or  fainting  with 
thirft,  and  in  thefe  extremi- 
ties relieved  thee  ? 

38  When  did  we  ever  fee 
thee  a  forlorn  and  unhappy 
ftranger,  and  entertained  thee 
•—or  indigent  and  naked,  and 
cloathed  thee  ? 

39  Or  when  did  we  ever 


fee  thee  confined  to  a  fick 
bed,  or  toaloathfome  dungeon 
— and  in  that  helplefs  condi- 
tion vifited  and  befriended 
thee  ? 

40  To  this  the  judge  will 
anfwer — Since  you  have  done 
thefe  kind  and  benevolent 
offices  to  the  moft  inconfide- 
rable  chriftian— — -I  confider 
them  as  done  to  myfeif. 

41  Afterwards  the 
judge  will  turn  to  thofe  on 
his  left  hand,  and  fay  to  themj 
with  ftern  looks,  full  of  m-. 
dignation — Depart  you  curf* 
ed  from  my  prefence,  to  be 
confumed  in  that  eternal  fire, 
that  was  prepared  for  the  de- 
vil and  his  angels. 

42  For  tho'  I  was  expiring 
with  hunger  and  thirft,  you 
repulfed  me  from  your  doors. 

43  Tho*  I  was  in  a  ftrange 
country  and  in  diftrefs,  you 
had  the  cruelty  to  refufe  me 

the  leaft  relief when  you 

law  me  fhiver  and  languifh 
under  cold  and  nakednefs  — 
when  you  faw  me  rendered 
helplels  by  indifpofition,  or 
confined  in  a  prifon — you  ne- 
glefted  me,  and  left  me  to 
all  the  cruel  rigours  of  my 
condition. 

44  This  company  too  will 
witnefs  furprife  at  fuch  an  ac- 


•*  The  word  (mtrKi'rrofxeii  doth  not  fignify  to  'vi/it,  but  to  take  the 
trjerfight  or  charge  of  a  perfon.  So  it  fhould  have  been  tranflated,  James 
1.27. 

cufation. 


92 


cufatlon,    and  fay Lord, 

when  did  we  ever  fee  thee  in- 
'volved  in   any  of  the  calami- 
ties you  mention,  and  denied 
thee  relief? 

45  He  will  then  reply  — 
Since  you  have  refufed  thefe 
humane  and  beneficent  offi- 
ces to  modeft  anci  humble 
virtue  in  ciftrcfs — I  confider 
them  as  being  refufed  to  my- 
felf. 

46  The  wicked  then  will 
be  fentenced  to  eternal  death, 
and  the  good  Ihall  be  adjudg- 
ed to  eternal  life. 

CHAP.   XXVI. 
I  Y\7HEN  Jefus  had  fi- 
VV    niflied  the  preceding 
difcourfes,    he  faid  unto  his 
difciples, 

2  There  are  only  two  days 
you  know  to  the  pafTover  — 
during  which  folemnity  be 
afTured  that  the  fon  of  man 
will  be  treacheroufly  deliver- 
ed into  the  power  cf  his  ene- 
mies, and  be  crucified. 

3  At  this  very  time  there 
was  convoked  a  general  coun- 
cil of  the  high  priefls,  the 
clergy  and  the  magiflrates — 
who  met  in  the  palace  of  the 
high  prieft,  whole  name  was 
Caiaphas. 

4  In  this  afTembly  they  all 
deliberated  and  concerted 
meafuies  how  to  trapan  Jelus 
by  fraud,  and  put  him  to 
dca'.h. 


The  Hiflory  of  Jesus       Chap.' xxvi. 

5  They  agreed,  however, 
not  to  execute  this  defign 
during  the  celebration  of  the 
pafTover — lefl  it  might  caufe 
a  tumult,  and  the  populace 
fhould   rei'cue  him  by  force. 

§ — 6  About  this  time  it 
happened,  that  as  Jefus  was 
in  Bethany,  in  the  houfe  of 
one  Simon  whom  he  had  mi- 
raculoufly  cured  of  leprofy, 

7  a  woman  approached  him 
as  he  was  reclining  on  the 
couch,  and  poured  an  alabaf- 
ter  box  of  the  fineft  and  rich- 
eft  perfume  upon  his  head. 

8  This  aftion,  of  which 
the  difciples  were  witnefTes, 
filled  fome  of  them  with  ex- 
treme indignation,  and  they 
could  not  forbear  teftifying 
their  reftntment  by  faying  — 
What  is  there  that  can  juftify 
fuch  extravagance ! 

9  This  perfume  might  have 
been  fold  for  a  conliderable 
fum,  which  would  have  re- 
lieved the  diftreffes  of  feveral 
poor  families. 

ID  But  Jefus  confcious  of 
thefe  repining  murmurs  faid 
to  them  —  Why  do  you  con- 


ceive fuch  violent  difgull  and 
refentment  againft  the  wo- 
man ?  —  fhe  hath  done  me  a 
good  and  beneficent  office. 

1 1  And  with  regard  to  what 
you  alledge  concerning  the 
poor  —  objefts  of  compafTion 
you  have  always  around  you 
—  but  my  continuance  with 

you 


Chap.  xxvi.        by  Matthew. 

you  will  be  but  of  a  very 
Ihort  duration. 

1 2  So  fhort,  that  the  per- 
fume, which  fhe  hath  now 
lavifhed  upon  my  perfon,  may 
be  confidered  in  the  light  of 
funeral  honours  paid  to  me. 

13  This  friendly  and  be- 
nevolent favour,  which  this 
woman  hath  juft  conferred 
upon  me,  I  alTure  you,  Ihall 
be  celebrated  in  every  coun- 
try where  the  gofpel  is  dif- 
fufed,  and  live  in  the  o-ratefui 
remembrance   of   all  future 


93 


§ — 14  After  this  Judas 
Ifcariot  one  of  the  twelve  a- 
poftles  went  to  the  high 
prieils, 

15  and  faid — What  reward 
will  you  give  me,  and  I  will 
deliver  Jefus  into  your  power  ? 
—  They  agreed  to  pay  him 
thirty  pieces  of  filver. 

16  From  the  time,  that 
this  contra(5l  was  made,  Ju- 
das continually  ftudied  the 
moft  favourable  opportunity 
of  putting  Jefus  into  their 
hands. 

§ — 17  The  difciples,  on 
the  firft:  day  of  unleavened 
bread,  came  to  Jefus,  and 
defired  to  know  in  what  place 
he  would  have  them  make 
preparation  for  eating  the 
pafchal  fupper. 

18  He  faid  to  them — Go 
into  the  city  to  fuch  a  certain 
perfon,  and  tell  him  that  your 


mailer  intends  to  celebrate  at 
his  houfe  the  approaching  fo- 
iemnity  with  his  difciples. 

19  The  difciples  imme- 
diately executed  his  injunc- 
tions —  and  in  that  perfon's 
houfe  they  provided  every 
thing  neceffary  for  the  paf- 
fover. 

20  Accordingly  in  the  e- 
vening  Jefus  fat  down  to  eat 
the  pafchal  lamb  with  his  dif- 
ciples. 

2 1  But  while  they  were  at 
fupper  Jefus  faid  to  them  — ■ 
I  certainly  know  that  one  of 
you  will  by  the  bafefl  perfidy 
betray  me  into  the  power  of 
thofe,  who  third  after  my 
blood. 

22  A  declaration  fo  unex- 
pe6led  threw  them  into  all 
the  exceffes  of  refentmentand 
grief — and  every  one  of  them 
refpeftively  afked  him,  by 
turns, — if  he  judged  him  ca- 
pable of  fuch  black  ingrati- 
tude and  treachery  ? 

23  He  replied — ^The  per- 
fon, who  will  perpetrate  this 
crime,  is  now  dipping  a  piece 
of  bread  in  the  diih. 

24  The  fon  of  man,  indeed, 
will  make  that  exit,  which 
the  antient  prophets  have 
long  fmce  predidted  —  but 
dreadful,  beyond  expreflion, 
will  be  the  punifhment  of 
that  perfon,  who  will  betray 
the  Mefliah  into  the  hands 
of  his   perfecutors  !    Happy 

would 


94 


T^he  Hiflory  of  Jesus       Chap,  xxvi. 


would  it  be  for  him,  had  he 
never  drawn  the  breath  of 
life! 

25  The  traitor  Judas  hear- 
ing this  diicourfe  (aid  —  Do 
you  think  me  capable  of  fuch 
villainy — I  do — Jefus  replied. 

26  As  they  were  at  fupper, 
Jefus  took  bread,  and  when 
he  had  given  thanks  to  God, 
he  broke  it,  and  diftributed 
it  to  his  difciples,  faying — 
Take  and  eat  this  bread  — 
which  I  defign  lliould  repre- 
lent  my  own  body. 

27  He  then  took  the  cup, 
and  having  paid  his  gratitude 
to  heaven,  he  gave  it  to  them, 
faying — Of  this  wine  do  you 
all  drink • 

28  for  it  reprefcnts  my  own 

blood by  the  effufion  of 

which  that  new  difpenfation, 
which,  is  defigned  to  reform 
a  vicious  and  depraved  world, 
Ihall  be  fealed  and  confirmed. 

29  And  let  me  farther  af- 
fure  you — that  I  will  not  taftc 
the  produce  of  the  vine,  'till 
the  time  that  my  heavenly 
father  hath  cre£led  his  king- 
dom '. 

30  When  they  had  fang 
the  ufual  pafchal  ode —  they 
withdrew  to  the  mount  of 
Olives. 

'J!  I  On  their  arrival  here  he 


faid  to  them — This  very  night 
you  will  all  be  afhamed  of  the 
caufe  you  have  efpoufed,  and 
defert  me — and  to  your  con- 
dud:  may  be  applied  a  pafTage 
which  occurs  in  one  of  the 
prophets  —  "  I  will  wound 
the  fliepherd,  and  the  flock 
fhall  difperfe." 

32  But  remember,  after  I 
am  raifed  from  the  grave,  I 
will  immediately  repair  to 
Galilee. 

33  Peter  then  replied-—— 
you  fay  that  we  fhall  all  relin- 
quifli  you — but  I  am  delibe- 
rately refolved  never  to  aban- 
don you. 

34  Hafl:  thou  formed  this 

refolution  ? I  allure  thee 

this  very  night  before  the 
cock  hath  crowed  three  times, 
thou  wilt  folemnly  deny  that 
thou  ever  hadft  any  connec- 
tions with  me. 

35  I  will  fooncr  meet  death, 
with  you,  faid  Peter,  in  the 
moll  dreadful  form,  than  ever 
be  guilty  of  fuch  bafenefs— — 
All  the  difciples  made  the 
fame  declarations. 

36  Jefus  then  attended 
with  his  difciples  came  to  a 
retired  place  called  Gethfe- 
mane — into  which  as  foon  as 
he  had  withdrawn,  he  faid  to 
them,— -Sit  ck)\vn  here,  while 


J  That  is,  not  'till  after  his  refurreaion— at  which  the  gofpel  difpen- 
fation properly  commenced.  Scc  Sjkti  on  the  Chrilliau  Religion,  p.  62, 
ivA  yyejt  on  Prayer,  p.  75  • 

I  ad- 


Chap.  XXVI.        By  "M  AT 

I  advance  a  little  farther, 
and  lupplicate  my  God  to  al- 
fift  me. 

37  He  then  took  with  him 
Peter,  and  the  two  fons  of  Ze- 

bcdee who  foon  favv  him 

fink  in  an  agony  of  excef- 
five  forrow  and  diftrefs  of 
mind. 

38  He  then  faid  to  them 
— —my  foul  is  overwhelmed 
in  a  jBood  of  the  moft  oppref- 
five  grief,  and  is  ready  to  ex- 
pire by  reafon  of  the  excru- 
ciatinpc  angjuifh  I  now  fuftain 

Do  Hay  here  and  fit  up 

with  me. 

39  Having  faid  this  he  ad- 
vanced a  few  fleps  from  them 
—  proftrated  himlelf  on  the 
ground,     and    uttered    this 

-O  merciful  God  ! 


prayer- 

fuffer  not  the  impending  ftorm 
to  break  over  my  head — but 
I  check  myielf — Not  my  will 
but  thine  be  done  ! 

40  He  then  rofe  from  his 
knees,   and  came  back  to  his 

difciples whom  he  found 

funk  in  profound  repofe 

and  awakening  Peter  he  faid 
— are  you  not  able  to  fit  up 
with  me,  but  for  one  fingle 
hour. 

41  Suffer  not  fleep  to  over- 
come you  in  this  emergency, 
but  earneftly  beg  of  God, 
that  you  may  not  be  feduced 
into  fin — Your  minds  chear- 
fully  prompt  you  to  adhere 
to  me,  but  the  ftrong  fears 


T  H  E  W.  9^ 

of  death,  alas !  will  foon  o- 
vercome  all  your  mental  re- 
folutions ! 

42  He  left  them  a  fecond. 
time,  and  devoutly  offered 
the  following  fupplication — 
O  my  father!  if  thefe  ap- 
proaching miferics  cannot  be 
avoided,  but  I  muft  be  in- 
volved in  them — I  calmly  ac- 
quiefce  in  thine  all  wife  difpo- 
lal! 

43  He  came,  and  again 
found  them  overwhelmed  in 
deep. 

44  Upon  feeing  them  in 
the  fame  condition,  he  went 
from  them  a  third  time — and 
poured  out  the  fame  devout 
requefbs. 

45  After  this  he  comes  to 
his  difciples  and  fays  to  them 
— You  may  now  indulge  your 
numbers,  and  fink  in  the  arms 
of  fecurity  and  repofe  —  for 
the  time  is  expired — my  fate 
is  decided,  the  fon  of  man  is 
this  moment  going  to  be  de- 
livered into  t!ie  hands  of  his 
wicked  enemies. 

46  Rife — Jet  us  depart—* 
the  traitor  is  here  ! 

47  He  had  not  fpoken 
thefe  words  before  Judas  ap- 
proached him,  attended  with 
a  vail  mob,  armed,  fome  of 
them  with  fwords,  others  with 
clubs,  whom  the  prelates  and 
the  magiilrates  had  hired  for 
this  purpofe. 

48  To   thefe  rufHans  the 

traitor 


96 


T^he.  Hiftory  ^"^  J  E  s  u  s       Chap.  xxvl. 


traitor  had  agreed  to  give  this 
fignal — The  perfon,  i'aid  he, 
whom  1  fhall  kifs,  is  the  man 
—Apprehend  him  immedi- 
ately. 

49  He  then  hailily  advan- 
ced up  to  Jeius,  and  laid — 
Hail  great  inftrutlor  !  —  and 
faluted  him,  leemingly,  with 
great  a/ dour  and  affeftion  ''. 

50  Friend !  faid  Jefus  to 
him,  what  is  it  hath  prompt- 
ed thee  to  this  ? — The  mob 
then  feeing  the  lignal,  rufliec 
upon  him  and  feized  him. 

51  One  of  the  difciples,  fee- 
ing this  violence,  immediately 
drew  his  fword  and  ftriick  a 
fervant  of  the  high  prieft  a 
blow  which  cut  off  his  right 
car. 

52  Upon  this  Jefus  turned 
to  him  and  faid  —  Iheath  thy 
fword — for  all,  that  fhall  now 
take  up  arms  to  refcue  me, 
arc  fure  to  be  overpowered 
and  flain. 

c^i^  Doll  thou  not  refleft, 
that  if  I  were  to  be  extricated 
by  force  from  my  impending 
fate,  I  could  now  implore  my 


heavenly  father  to  deliver  me, 
and  fliould  inftantly  be  incir- 
cled  with  many  thoulands  of 

Angels  ?• 

54  But  how,  then,  would 
thofe  prophecies  be  fulfilled, 
which  exprefsly  predidl  the 
L.iiermgs  and  death  of  the 
Mcffiah  ? 

SB  When  the  officers  had 
feized  Jefus,  he  faid  to  the 
furrounding  mob — Why  did 
you  come  armed  with  clubs 
and  fwords  to  apprehend  me, 
like  a  thief,  in  this  clandelline 
manner?' — When  you  knew 
thati  was  every  day  publickly 
inftrtifling  the  people  in  the 
temple — yet  laid  no  violent 
hands  upon  me  ? 

^6  But  the  antient  predic- 
tions mufl  be  accompliflied 
— I  am  tofuftainallthis  treat- 
ment  When  the  difciples 

faw  their  mafter  in  the  hands 
of  thefe  ruffians,  they  were 
feized  with  confternaticn,  and 
dcferted  him  by  a  fudden  and 
precipitate  flight. 

§ — c^^  When  they  had 
apprehended  Jefus  they  drag- 


^  (fiMu  is  ufed  in  the  verfe  before,  bwt  KATHtpihia  in  this,  and  inti- 
mates that  the  traitor  faluted  him  with  great  ardency.  To  cxprefs  myfelf 
in  laiin :  In  pio  officio  aliijuandiu  immoratus  eil.  Pericles  Xovtd.  A/pa/ta 
with  the  grcatcll  tendernefs,  and  never  went  or  came  from  the  forum,  but 
»»ffcrtt(^47o  //.tTA  7«  KaTctt^thiiv.  Plutarch  Pericles,  p.  301.  All  the  army 
ftied  tears  for  joy,  and  cvi^vovro  a.KhvKoii:  Kai  KAnaiAy.v.  Plutarch  ia 
Fabio,  p.  330.  Cato  flruck  Mauillius  out  of  the  lift  of  the  fenators  be- 
caufe  in  the  prefence  of  his  daughter  Tvtv  avrxyvfenKct.  KdLmiKvcTH'. 
Plutarch  Cato  Maj.  p.  634.  Sylla  always  carried  in  his  bofom  a  little 
<rolden  image,  which  in  an  engagement  he  ever  ufed  xaT«ip/A£/i'.  Plut. 
Sylla.  p.  861.  Edit.  Steph. 

4  25^ 


iaphas 
whofe 


Chap.  XX vi.  hy 

•ged    him     before    C 
the    high    prieft,     at 
hoLife  the  clergy  and  magi- 
ftrates,  were  then  afiembled. 

58  Peter  followed  him,  at 
feme  confiderable  diftance,  as 
far  as  into  the  hall  of  the 
high  priefl — where  he  ming- 
led with  the  fervants,  defign- 
ing  to  learn  the  refult  of  this 
tranfaftion. 

59  When  Jefus  was  brought 
before  the  high  pricfts  and  the 
magiftrates,  the  whole  coun- 
cil tried  to  fuborn  witnefles  to 
atteft  the  mofl  notorious  falfe- 
hoods— — in  order  that  they 
might  publickly  condemn  and 
execute  him  as  a  malefaftor. 

60  But  tho'  feveral  falfe 
evidences  were  procured,  yet 
what  they  alledged  was  not 
deemed  fufficient  to  convid 
him  of  a  capital  crime — 'till 
two  witnefles  appeared, 

61  who  declared  that  they 
had  heard  him  utter  the  fol- 
lowing exprefllons — I  am  able 
to  demolifli  this  whole  fabric 
of  the  temple,  and  in  three 
days  time  to  rebuild  it  in  all  its 
former  grandeur  and  mag- 
nificence. 

62  The  high  priefl  then 
role  from  his  feat  and  faid  to 
him — Wilt  thou  offer  no  de- 
fence ? — Wilt  not  thou  vin- 
dicate thyfelf  againfl  thefe 
charges  ? 

63  But  Jefus,  knowing 
their  determined  reiblutions  to 
condemn  him,   continued  fi- 

VOL.  I. 


Matthew. 


97 

high  priefl  then 


lent — The 

faid  to  him — I  folemnly  ad 
jure  thee  in  the  name  of  the 
living  God,  in  whofe  pre- 
fence  thou  flandeft,  that  thou 
wilt  exprefsly  tell  us,  whether 
thou  art  the  real  MefTiah,  the 
fon  of  God  ? 

64  Jefus  anfwered  that  he 
was,  and  laid — You  will  foon 
fee  a  convincing  proof  that  I 
am — 'for  you  will  fee  me  in- 
vefled  with  the  higheft  dignity 
and  authority,  and  riding  ia 
triumph,  pomp  and  majefty, 
upon  the  clouds,  fcattering 
deltru6lion  upon  this  city  and 
nation. 

6cj  Upon  hearing  this,  the 
high  priefl  rent  his  cloaths, 
-What  horrid 


crying  out- 
blafphemy  is  this !  What  oc- 
cafion  have  we  for  evidence 
againfl  him  ? — Have  you  not 
heard  the  notorious  blafphe- 
mies  againfl  God  that  hejuft 
uttered  ? 

66  I  defire  your  fentiments 
of  it — The  council  with  one 
unanimous  voice  anfwered — 
that  he  ought  to  fuffer  capi- 
tal punifhment. 

6"]  This  fentence  was  no 
(boner  pronounced,  than  the 
mob  around  him  began  to 
offer  him  the  vilefl  indigni- 
ties, fpitting  in  his  face,  and 
ftriking  him  with  their  fills, 

68  and  during  this  oppro- 
brious   treatment    infolcncly 
alking  him  to  tell,    by  tlie 
prophetic  powers   he  pofiei- 
H  fed 


^8 


^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus     Chap,  xxvii. 


fed,  who   it  was  that  ftrnck  \ 
him. 

%-^6()  Peter,  as  hath  been 
mentioned  above,  was  now  in 
the  hall — where  as  he  was  iit- 
ting,  one  ol'the  fervant  maids 
came  to  him  and  laid— I  be- 
lieve you  was  one  of  the  com- 
panions of  this  Jefus  of  Na- 
zereth. 

70  You  miftake  the  per- 
fon,  he  replied — 1  never  had 
the  leaft  acquaintance  with 
him — I  do  not  know  what 
you  mean. 

71  He  was  no  fooner  gone 
into  the  paffage,  but  another 
maid  fervant  law  him,  and  faid 
to  the  people  that  frood  round 
her — That  perlon  there  was 
one  of  Jefus'  particular  triends. 

72  But  he  anfwered  with 
d  folemn  oath,  That  he  did 
not  fo  mucli  as  know  him. 

73  A  little  alter,  feme  of 
thofe  who  flood  thc^re  faid  to 
Pel er— you  certainly  are  one 
of  his  diiciples — for  your  dia- 
lect is  a  plain  demonftration, 
thatycu  are  a  Galilean. 

74  Upon  this  he  began  to 
litter  the  melt  dreadful  oaths 
and  imprecations,  making  the 
mcft  folemn  appeals  to  God, 
th?t  he  never  had  any  con- 
nexions with  him — when  he 
heard  the  cock  crow. 

75  He  then  inltantly  recol- 
le6led    what    Je.'lis  had  told 

him— that  betore  tl.c  cock 

crew,  he  would  three  feveral 


times  utter  the  ftrongeft  af- 
feverations  that  he  had  never 
known  him — this  rufhing  in- 
to his  mind  ftruck  him  with 
a  painful  fenfe  of  his  weak- 
neis  and  wickednefs,  and  he 
went  out  and  burft  into  a 
flood  of  bitter  tears* 

CHAP   XXVII. 

I  T  N  the  morning  the  high 
■*•  priefts  and  the  other 
members,  who  compofed  the 
Sanhedrim  convened  a  coun- 
cil in  v/hich  it  was  unani- 
moufly  decreed  that  Jefus 
fhould  fuffcr  capital  punilh- 
ment. 

2  Accordingly  they  load- 
ed him  with  fetters  and  con- 
duced him  before  Pontius 
Pilate  the  Roman  governour. 

§ 3    But  when   Judas 

found  that  Jefus  was  con- 
demned to  die,  he  was  flung 
with  remorfe,  and  bringing 
back  the  thirty  pieces  of  fil- 
ver  to  the  prelates  and  the 
mao-iilrarcs, 

4  faid  to  them — J  have  oecn 
guilty  of  a  moll  horrid  and  en- 
ormous crime,  in  betraying? 
an  innocent  j'»erfGn  into  your 
hands  by  an  acft  ol  the  bafeft 
perfidy  —  they  replied  —  this 
thy  treachery  doth  not  in  the 

leall  alffd  us thou  aloiiC 

art  chargeable  with  it. 

5  He  then,  feized  with 
delpair  and  rage,  fiungdown' 

the 


Chap;  xxvii.         by    yi  k 

the  money — ruQied  out  of  the 
temple,  and  immediately 
lianged  himieif  ^ 

6  The  high  priefts  order- 
ing the  pieces  to  be  picked 
lip  faid— as  human  blood  hath 
been  purchafed  with  this  mo- 
hey,  it  is  unlawful  for  us  to 
put  it  into  the  treafury  of  the 
temple. 

7  They  therefore  delibe- 
rated to  what  ufe  they  fliould 
convert  it,  and  agreed  ac  laft 
to  purchafe  with  it  the  pot- 
ter's field  to  be  a  burying- 
ground  for  all  foreigners  that 
died  in  the  city. 

8  From  this  circumftance 
that  plot  of  ground  hath  ever 
fince  been  called  the  jidd  of 
blood. 

9  This  incident  is  cxaftly 
fimilar  to  the  following  paf- 
fage  which  occurs  in  the  pro- 
phet Jeremiah — they  took 
the  thirty  pieces  of  filver,  the 
price  which  the  children  ot 
Ifrael  fet  upon  my  head, 

10  and  they  caft  them  in- 
to the  potter's  field,  as  God 
had  enjoined  me." 

§ — II  When  Jefus  was 
©rdercd  before  the  governour, 


T  T  H  E  W.  99 

he  faid  to  him — Do  you  pre- 
tend to  aflume  the  title  of 

King  of  the  Jews  h Jefus 

anfwered  in  the  affirmaave. 

12  But  to  many  accufati- 
ons  that  were  here  brought 
againll  him  by  the  high prieils 
and  the  magiftrates  he  made 
no  reply,  knowing  their  in- 
flexible refolution  to  condemn 
him. 

1 3  Upon  this  Pilate  faid— 
Why  do  you  continue  fflent— * 
do  not  you  hear  the  heavy 
crimes  they  alledge  againlt 
you  ? 

14  But  Jefus  ftill  prefer- 
ved  a  profound  filence —  fo 
that  the  governour  was  great- 
ly aftonifhed  at  his  behaviour. 

15  The  governour  had  e* 
ftabliflied  a  cuftom  of  grati- 
fying the  people,  at  every 
padbver,  with  the  releafe  of 
any  one  priibner,  whofe  par- 
don they  folicited  of  him. 

1 6  There  happened  then  to 
be  under  confinement  a  very 
notorious  ruffian,  whofe  name 
was  Barabbas. 

17  As  the  council,  there- 
fore, flood  convened  before 
him,    Pilate,    not   doubting 


'  Some^  interpreters  would  conclude  from  the  greek  verb  here  ufed  that 
defpair  and  melancholy  choaked  and  ftrangled  the  traitor  :  bat  it  is  never 
ufed  in  this  fenfe.  "  Some  fay  when  Ariadne  was  deferted  bv  Thefeus 
Jhe  hanged  herfelf,  cf7ra.yzcf.^a,'.  Plutaich  Thef.  p.  16.  "  They  bring 
out  the  halters  -ruv  a'Tr-jy /oatvu- .  Plutarch  I'hemillocles,  p.  223. 
"  When  he  found  that  Cato  knew  of  it,  he  hanged  himfelf,  cL-r;]yB±Ta. 
Plutarch  Cato  Maj.  626.  "  Socrates  being  abufed  in .  a  comedy,  only 
laughed  at  it,  but  Poiiagrus  hanged  himfelf,  ft/TJi^^^^Tc-  .^lian  Var. 
Hill.  p.  341.  Edit.  Fabri. 


H  2 


but 


ICO  T/6t'  Hiftory 

but  they  would  prefer  JcTus 
to  fuch  an  infamous  malcfac 
tour,  propofed  it  to  thtm, 
■whether  they  would  have 
him  releafe  this  Barabbas  or 
Jefus. 

1 8  For  he  knew  very  well 
from  the  whole  of  their  con- 
duct on  this  occafion  that  they 
had  dragged  him  to  his  tribu- 
nal merely  from  a  principle 
of  determined  malice  and  in- 
veterate rage.  I 

19  It  happened,  moreover,  ' 
while  he  was  prefiding  in  this 
court  of  judicature  that  his 
wife  difpatched  amelTenger  to 
him,entreating  him  not  to  con- 
demn an  innocent  perlon — 
for  that  ihe  had  been,  the 
niglu  before,  greatly  terrified 
with  a  frightful  dream  con- 
cerning him. 

20  In  the  mean  time  whilt 
he  was  ruminating  on  this 
meflage,  the  high  priefls  and 
the  magillrates  prevailed  with 
the  populace  by  their  iijipor- 
tunate  perfuafions  to  folic' t 
for  the  acquittal  of  Barabbas 
and  the  execution  of  Jefus. 

21  The  governour  reco- 
vering from  the  perturbation 
into  which  this  incident  had 
thrown  him,   afl^ed  them  a- 

gain Which  of  thefc  two 

do  you  choofe  I  fliould  in- 
llantly  difmifs  from  confine- 
ment ? — Thev  all  cried  Ba- 
rabbas. 

22  But  what  fentence  (hall 


of  Jesus      Chap.  jixviL 

I  pronounce,  faid  Pilate,  up- 
on this  man,  whom  you  call 

the  Meffiah? They  uni- 

verfally  clamoured  —  let  him 
be  crucified  i 

23  The  governour,  afto- 
nifhed  at  the  furious  rage 
they  expreffed,  calmly  afked 

them what   crime   they 

charged  him  with  —  but  to 
this  they  only  replied  with  a 
vociferation  more  violent 
than  ever — let  him  be  cruci- 
fied! 

24  When  Pilate  found  that 
all  his  attempts  to  refcue  him 
from  their  fury  were  fruitlefs, 
and  that  the  more  he  endea- 
voured to  placate  their  re-' 
fentments,  the  more  he  in- 
(ligated  and  inflamed  them, 
he  ordered  water  to  be 
brought,  and  wafliing  his 
hands  in  the  prefence  of  the 
whole  court,  faid  '■  ■  I  give 
this  public  teflimony  that 
my  hands  fliall  not  be  em- 
brued  in  the  blood  of  this 
good  man. 

2  5  The  whole  aflembly  then 

unanimoufly  replied Let 

his  blood  be  upon  us  and 
upon  our  poilerity ! 

26  Accordingly  Barabbas 
was  releafed  from  prifon— — 
and  Jefus  was  fentenccd  to 
be  firft  fcourged  and  after- 
wards crucified. 

27  After  the  firft  part  of 
the  fentence  was  executed— 
the  trovernour's  guards'  car- 

ried 


Chap,  xxvii-        by  M  a  t 

ried  Jefus  into  the  pr^torium 
— and  there  colle6led  toge- 
ther the  whole  cohort, 

28  They  then  itripped  off 
his  cloaths,  and  arrayed  him 

in  robes  of  mock  royalty 

for  they  put  on  him  a  purple 
veft 

29  they  platted  a  crown 
of  thorns,  and  fixed  it  on  his 

head they  put  a  cane  into 

his  right  hand  for  a  fcepter — 
and    then    proftrated   them- 

felves  before  him offering 

him  the  moft  wanton  and  cruel 
infultsand  indignities — fliout- 
ing,  God  fave  the  king  of 
the  Jews ! 

30  they  fpit  upon  him — 
they  took  the  cane  which 
he  had  in  his  hand  and  ftruck 
him  with  it  on  the  head,  that 
the  fharp  thorns  might  pierce 
and  wound  it. 

31  When  they  were  tired 
with  this  infolent  treatment, 
they  divefted  him  of  the  pur- 
ple robe,  and  putting  on  him 
his  own  cloaths  they  dragged 
him  away  to  the  place  of  cru- 
cifixion. 

32  On  their  way  from  the 
prastorium  they  happened  to 
meet  one  Cimon,  a  foreigner, 
from  Cyrene — him  they  com- 
pelled by  menaces  to  carry 
the  crofs. 

^l  When  they  were  arriv- 
ed at  the  place  of  execution, 
called  in  the  Jewilh  l^iigusge 


T  H  E  W. 


lOI 


Golgotha,  which  fignifies, 
The  place  of  fkulls, 

34  they  were  kind  enough 
to  offer  him  a  ftupify-ing 
draught,  a  conipofition  of 
gall  and  vinegar  —  but  after 
he  tailed  it,  he  refufed  to 
drink  it. 

35  The  Raman  foldiers 
having  fixed  and  erected  the 
crofs,   and  nailed   him   to  it, 

caft  lots  for  his  cloaths a 

circumflance  fimilar  to  one 
which  the  Pfalmift  mentions 
in  the  following  pafTage— — ' 
"  They  made  a  divifion  of 
my  apparel,  and  call  lots  for 
it." 

0^6  They  then  fat  down 
upon  the  place  and  kept 
guard. 

37  Over  his  head  they  alfo 

put  up  this  infcription to 

iignify  the  crime  for  which 
he  fuffered  — This  is  the 

KING  OF   THE   JeWS. 

38  Along  with  him  there 
were  crucified  two  thieves, 
one  on  each  fide. 

39  The  people  that  pafTed 
by  the  place  reproached  him 
in  all  the  abulive  languao-e 
they  could  invent,  making 
him  the  objed:  of  all  their 
banter  and  derifion — fhaking 
their  heads  at  him, 

40  and  crying -This  is 

the  man,  who  could  demo- 
lifli  the  temple  and  rear  it 
aga,in  in   the  fpace  of  three 

H  3  daysl 


J02 


The  Hlftory  of  Jesus      Chap,  xxvli. 


days!— O  illuftrious  pro- 
phet! fave  thylelf!  Since"' 
thou  art  the  MelTiah,  loofen 
the  nails  by  thy  miraculous 
power,  and  defcend  from  thy 
crofs ! 

41  With  the  fame  fcornful 
contumely  did  the  high  priefts, 
the  clergy,  and  themagiftrates 
load  him,  contemptuoudy  fay- 
ing* 

42 Others  he  refcued 

from  death,  but  hath  not  pow- 
er to  refcue  himfelfl  Since 
he  alTumes  the  title  of  king 
oflfrael,  let  him  now  drop 
from  his  crofs  in  perfed  health, 
and  we  fhall  credit  his  pre- 
tenfions. 

43 — He  had  the  aflTurance 
%o  arrogate  to  himfclf  the  ap- 
pellation of  the  fon  of  God — 
let  that  Being  now,  fince  he 
approves  his  condudt,  deliver 
him  from  his  tortures  ! 

44  The  thieves  who  were 
crucified  along  v/ith  him,  up- 
braided him  alio  in  the  lame 
opprobrious  terms. 

§ — 45  Nov/  from  twelve 
o'clock  to  three  in  the  after- 
noon, the  v/hole  land  of  Ju- 
dca  was  inveioped  in  thick 
darknefs : 


46  About  three,  Jefus  ut- 
tered with  a  loud  and  (trong 
voice  thefe  words — Eli,  Eli, 

lama    fabachthani which 

tranfiated  fignifv',  O  my  God  ! 
my  God  !  why  haft  thou  de- 
ferted  me " !  "- 

47  Some  perfons  that  ftood 
by,  hearing  thefe  expreffions, 
and  led  into  a  miftake  from 
the  fimilarity  of  the  words, 

faid He  implores  Elias  to 

come  and  affifl  him. 

48  Then  one  of  them  im- 
mediately ran — took  afpunge 
— filled  it  with  vinegar,  and 
fixing  it  at  the  end  of  a  cane 
gave  it  him  to  drink. 

49  But  the  reft  reproved 
him  for  this  kind  office,  fay- 
ing— Do  not  regard  him — let 
us  fee  if  Elias  will  come  to 
extricate  him  from  his  mifery. 

50  Jefus  cried  again  with 
an  cxceflively  loud  and  vehe- 
ment voice  and  expired. 

51  A  moft  amazing  fcene 

now  prefentcd  itfelf« The 

veil,  that  feparated  the  holy 
of  holies  from  the  fanftuary, 
was  torn  in  pieces  from  the 
to])  to  the  bottom — There  was 
alio  a  dreadful  earthquake,  by 
the  violence  of  whofe  concuf- 


'~'  f/ in  this  and  the  4 2cl  verfe  fignifies  (tnce :  as  it  does,  wheu  joined 
to  an  indicative  mood,  in  innumerable  other  places. 

"  Our  Saviour  by  citing  the  beginning  of  the  22d  Pfalm  or/y,  intended 
to  refer  the  Jews  to  the  Pfalm  itfclf,  in  which  their  prefunt  conduft  and 
hr     ■ 


hj  ■  Circumltanccs  are  minutely  dcfcribed  with  a  mn(>  aniar-ing  eyaftnefs. 
"^he  Jews  method  cf  quoting  icriptj:-':  vva:;  by  reciting  only  afev.'  words 
ning  of  a  paragraph, 

ficr.s 


at 


^c  I. 


^''g:. 


chap,  xxvii.       by    Mat 

fions  the  rocks  were  fhattered 
and  burft  afunder. 

52  The  monuments  of  the 
dead  were  allb  opened,  and 
the  bodies  of  many  good  men, 
who  had  been  lately  deceafed, 
were  reftored  to  life, 

53  and  quitting  their  fe- 
pulchres,  after  his  refurrec- 
tion  went  into  the  holy  city 
and  were  {ttn  by  confiderable 
numbers  of  the  inhabitants. 

54  But  the  Roman  cap- 
tain and  the  guard  of  foldiers 
which  he  commanded,  when 
they  felt  the  violence  of  the 
fhocks,  and  faw  the  other  a- 
ftonifhing  prodigies  that  now 
occurred,  they  were  ftruck 
with  extreme  horrour,  and 
all  declared  —  Undoubtedly 
this  perfon  was  t]ie  ion  of 
a  God ! 

^^  There  flood,  moreover, 
at  fome  confiderable  dif- 
rance  from  the  crofs  a  large 
company  of  women,  who  had 
contributed  to  his  fupport, 
and  had  attended  him  in  his 
journey  from  Galilee. 

r^(y  Among  thefe  were 
Mary  Magdalene,  Mary  the 
mother  of  James  and  Jofes, 
and  the  mother  of  John  and 
the  other  James. 

57  In  the  evening  Jofeph 
of  Arimathca,  a  peribn  of 
great  dignity  and  opulence, 
who  was  both  convinced  him- 


T  H  E  W.  103 

felf,  and  laboured  to  con- 
vince others  °  of  the  divine 
authority  of  Jefus, 

58  v/ent  to  Pilate,  and  re- 
quefted  it  as  a  favour,  that 
he  would  grant  him  the  body 
of  Jefus — The  governour  at 
his  earned  folicitation  ordered 
the  body  to  be  taken  down 
and  delivered  to  him. 

59  When  this  gentleman 
had  received  the  corpfe,  he 
fwathed  it  in  the  fined  linen, 

60  and  interred  it  in  a 
tomb,  which  he  had  lately 
hollowed  in  the  rock,  and  in 
which  he  defigned  that  hrs 
own  remains  fhould  be  depo- 
fited — and  after  having  block- 
ed up  and  fecured  the  mouth 
of  the  fepulchre  with  a  large 
done,  he  departed, 

Oi  Mary  Magdalene,  and 
the  other  Mary,  fitting  on  a 
place  oppofite  the  fepulchre, 
were  pleafed  fpetStarors  of 
thefe  funeral  obfequies. 

§ — 62  The  next  day  being 
the  Jewidi  fabbath,  the  high 
prieds  and  the  Pharifees  went 
in  a  bo-'y  to  Pilate : 

(>l  Being  admitted,  they 
fpoke  thus  — We  remember. 
Sir,  that  this  notorious  im- 
poftor  publickiy  gave  out, 
that  three  days  after  his  dearh 
he  would  rife  again. 

64  We  defire  you,  there- 
fore, X.O  give  orders  tl;at  the 


Literally,  made  difciples  to  Jefus, 

H  4 


fepulchre 


104 

fepulchre  may  be  (trongly 
guarded  and  fecured  for  three 
days — for  fbould  his  difciples 
come  in  the  night  time  and 
Ileal  his  body,  and  publifh  to 
the  world  that  he  is  actually 
rifen,  the  people  will  be  re- 
duced into  a  delufion  that 
will  be  attended  with  more 
dangerous  and  pernicious 
conrequences,  than  what  have 
already  happened. 

6^  To  this  their  propofal 
Pilate  aflented  and  laid — Go 
then,  take  a  guard  with  you, 
and  make  the  fepulchre  as 
fecure  as  you  think  proper. 

66  Accordingly  they  went 
— fecured  the  mouth  of  the 

fepulchre fet  a  feal  upon 

the  large  ftone — -blocked  up 
its  entrance  —  and  placed  a 
ftrong  body  of  foldiers  to 
guard  it, 

CHAP.    XXVIII. 

1  T  N  the  evening  when  the 
«■•  Jewifh  labbath  was  clof- 
ed  and  the  firft  day  of  the 
week  juil  commenced,  Mary 
Magdalene  and  the  other  Ma- 
ry went  to  view  the  tomb. 

2  But  here  a  furprifing 
fcene  prefented  itfelf — — ~A 
dreadful  earthquake  fhookthe 

ground an  angel  then  de- 

fcendcd  from  heaven ad- 
vanced to  the  tomb — rolled 
away  the  large  ftone  that  co- 


7/je  Hiilory  of  Jesus     Chap,  xxviii. 


vered  its  mouth,  and  fat  up- 
on it. 

3  Red  fiery  beams  darted 
from  his  vifag-e,  like  gleams 
of  lightening,  and  his  robes 
flione  with  a  fplendour,  in- 
exprefiibly  bright  and  daz- 
zling. 

4  The  guards  were  lb 
ilruck  with  his  appearance, 
that  their  blood  was  inftantly 
chilled  with  horrour,  and  they 
funk  down  like  dead  men. 

5  The  angel  addrcfied  him- 
felf  to  the  women  with  pla- 
cid nfildnefs  and  benevolence, 

and  laid 1  know  that  you 

are  come  hither  with  a  pious 
defign  to  pay  your  laft  kind 
offices  to  the  crucified  Jefus. 

6  But  he  is  no  longer  in- 
clofed  within  this  tomb — he 
is  rifen  from  the  ruins  of  the 
grave,  as  he  faid  he  fliould 
do — come  fee  the  place  where 
your  niafter  vvas  once  depo- 
fited. 

7  And  do  you  exert  all  the 
fpeed  you  are  able,  and  in- 
form his  difciples  that  he  is 
rifen  from  the  dL*ad,  and  that 
he  is  advancing  before  them 
into  Galilee,  v/hcrc  he  will 
certainly  exhibit  himfelf  to 
their  view — remember,  it  is 
an  angel  commands ! 

8  Having  received  this  or- 
der they  ran  from  the  fepul- 
chre with  fwift  and  impatient 
fteps  to  bring  this  ha]ipy  news 

tQ 


Chap,  xxvili.       by    lA  at 

to  the  difciples,  while  fear  and 
joy  tumultuouQy  flruggled  m 
their  bofoms. 

9  But  as  they  were  flying 
with  the  mellage  in  this  pre- 
cipitate   manner behold ! 

Jefus  met  and  greeted  them 
— The  well  known  voice  and 
form  (truck  them  with  inex- 
preflible  tranlports — they  run 

to  him proftrated  them- 

felves,  and  embraced  his 
knees. 

10  Jefus  then  faid  to  them 
— Difpel  every  fear,  and  go, 
bid  my  difciples  haften  into 
Gahlec,  where  I  will  meet 
them.. 

§ — II  After  the  women 
had  left  the  fepulchre,  fome 
of  the  guards  came  into  the 
city,  and  gave  the  high  priefts 
a  circumftantial  account  of 
every  thing  that  had  happen- 
ed at  the  tomb. 

12  Upon  this  information 
a   council   was    immediately 

convened- in  which  they 

came  to  a  refolution  to  give 
a  confiderable  fum  of  money 
t-o  bribe  the  foldiers. 

13  And  they  ordered  them, 
whenever  they  were  confulted 
about  thefe  occurrences,  to 
report,  that  the  difciples  came 
in  a  clandeftine  manner  in  the 
night  time,  and  ftole  the  bo- 
dy, while  they  were  afleep. 

1 4  And  they  moreover  af- 
fured  the  foldiers,  that  if  their 
condu6t  fhould  happen  to  be 


T  H  E  W.  105 

found  out  by  the  governour, 
they  would  take  care  to  ex- 
culpate them,  and  appeafc 
his  refentment. 

1 5  The  foldiers,  being  thus 
largely  bribed,  a6led  as  they 
were  inftrufted — and  this  ac- 
count, which  the  foldiers  were 
hired  to  publifh,  is  current 
and  credited  among  the  Jews 
to  this  day. 

16  The  difciples  went  di- 
re6lly  to  Galilee  and  afcendcd 
a  particular  mountain,  whicli 
Jefus  had  named  as  the  place, 
where  he  would  exhibit  him- 
felf  to  their  view. 

1 7  But  tho'  they  had  doubt- 
ed before,  as  foon  as  they  faw 
him,  they  were  convinced  of 
the  identity  of  his  perfon,  and 
proftrated  themfelves  before 
him. 

18  Jefus  then  addrefled 
them  in  the  following  words 

I  am  now  invefted  with 

univerfal  power  in  heaven  and 
on  earth,  as  a  reward  for  my 
obedience. 

19  Go  you,  therefore,  and 
make  converts  in  every  na- 
tion, baptizing  them  into  the 
belief  and  profeflion  of  a  re- 
ligion, which  is  planned  by 
the  Father,  publiflied  by  the 
Son,  and  confirm.ed  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  : 

20  Enjoining  upon  them  a 
ftrift  and  confcientiousobfer- 
vance  of  all  the  precepts  that 
I  have  taught  you  —  and  re- 
member. 


io6 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  i. 


member,  that  in  all  your  la- 
bours and  miniflrations  I  (hall 
c\'er  be  your  conilant  guar- 


dian and  fupport  to  the  final 
confummation  of  all  things. 


^'^f^^:f^e^'^^r^o<^^t)S£i^^:^^^r:;;f,t^(^^'^^(^^,^^^ 


THE 


HISTORY    OF    JESUS 


By       mark. 


CHAP.  I. 

I  Y  intend  to  write  the  hif- 
X  tory  of  Jefus  the  Mef- 
fiah,  the  ion  of  God  : 

2  Whofe  appearance  on 
^arth  was  ufhercd  in  by  John 
the  Baptift,  according  to  the 
exprefs  predi6lion  of  the  an- 
tient  prophets,  rt  corded  in  the 

two  following  pafiaores 

*'  Behold  I  fend  an  herald 
before  thee  to  proclaim  thy 
iipproach  and  prepare  men 
for  thy  rec/ption." 

3  "  Hark!  how  the  wil- 
dernefs  refounds  with  the  loud 
proclamation — O  prepare  for 
the  fpeedy  advent  of  the 
McfTiah — llrow  the  path  with 
tlowers,  in  which  his  iacred 
feet  Iball  tread!'' 

4  According  to  thefc 
prophecies  John  appeared  as 


the  harbinger  of  the  Mefllah, 
and  publickly  baptized  in  the 
wildernefs,  inculcating  upon 
all  who  came  to  him  tlie  ne- 
cefiity  of  fincere  repentance 
in  order  to  their  fccuring  the 
divine  forgivenefs. 

5  Struck  with  the  appear- 
ance of  fo  illuftrious  a  pro- 
phet, the  whole  country  of 
Judea,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerufalem  flocked  into  the 
wildernefs — and  all  thefe  in- 
numerable crowds  were  bap- 
tized by  him  in  the  river  Jor- 
dan, confcifrng  their  paft 
crimes  with  genuine  and  un- 
feigned remorfe,  and  making 
the  moft  deliberate  refolutions 
CO  reform  their  lives. 

'6  John  affedted  great  mor- 
tification and  aufterity  of  man- 
ners —  v/earing  a  coarle  gar- 
ment made  ofcamels  hair,  and 
a  2;irdle 


Chap,  i,  hy   M 

a  girdle  of  leather — feeding 
on  locufts,  and  the  honey 
that  he  met  with  in  the  woods^f 

7  This  prophet  made  this 
rnoft  folemn  and  public  pro- 
clamation to  all  that  vaft  mul- 
titude that  reforted  to  him  — 
There  is  coming,  faid  he, 
^nd  will  fpeedily  appear  a'  di- 
vine perfonage  of  a  charafter 
and  dignity  infinitely  fuperi- 
pur  to  what  I  am  in  veiled 
with,  and  for  whom  I  am  not 
worthy  to  ftoop  to  perform 
the  meaneft  office.,4 

8  I  have  baptized  you  on- 
ly with  water,  but  this  divine 
meffenger  will  baptize  and 
endue  you  with  the  gifts  of 
the  holy  fpirit.   j| 

§— 9  While  John  v/as 

thus  employed  in  the  duties 
of  his  miniftry,  Jefus  himfelf 
came  among  others  from  Na- 
zereth,  and  was  baptized  by 
him  in  Jordan.  1 

ID  But  the  moment  he 
came  out  of  the  water,  he 
law  the  fky  open,  and  the 
holy  fpirit  defcended  upon 
him  with  the  rapidity  of  a 
dove  :  "^ 

1 1  And  at  the  fame  time, 
thefe  words  v/ere  diftindlly 
articulated  from  the  clouds — 
Thou  art  my  beloved  fon, 
the  objedl  of  my  fondeil  af- 
fections !  \. 

% — 12  Sooi^  after  this,  Je- 
fus in  a  prophetic  dream  fan- 


A  R   K.  107 

cicd  himfelf  tranfported  into 
a  dreary  wildernefs  : 

1 3  And  in  this  horrid  and 
folitary  defart,  he  thought  he 
lived  among  wild  beafts,  de- 
prived of  food  for  forty  days 
— during  all  which  fpace,  Sa- 
tan praftifed  every  art  to  fe- 
duce  him  from  his  duty  — • 
but  at  the  expiration  of  this 
period,  he  thought,  the  an- 
gels came  and  gave  him  re- 
ire  fhmient. 

§ — 14  After  John's  im- 
prifonment,  Jefus  travelled  in- 
to Galilee,  publifliing  thejoy- 
ful  news  that  the  kingdom  of 
the  MefTiah  was  going  to  be 
erecEled, 

15  and  making  public  pro- 
clamation, wherever  he  went, 
that  the  time  fixed  by  the  pro- 
phets was  elapfed  —  that  the 
grand  revolution  under  the 
Mefliah  would  very  foon  take 
place — folemnly  admonifhing 
all  to  repent  and  amend  their 
lives,  and  to  credit  the  joyful 
news  he  then  communicated. 

§ 16  Walking  along 

the  fliore  of  the  lake  of  Ga- 
lilee, lie  faw  two  brothers, 
Simon  and  Andrew,  who  were 
Hllicrmen,  and  happened  then 
to  be  calling  a  net  into  the  lake. 

1 7  Jefus  called  to  them  and 
faid — Follow  me,  and  I  will 
in(lru6l  you  to  catch  a  nobler 
prey — to  drav/  men  from  the 
waves  of  fin  and  mifery. 

18  Imme- 


1 8  Immediately  upon  this 
authoritative  invitation  they 
deferted  all  they  had,  and 
joined  themlelves  to  him. 

19  Advancing  a  little  far- 
ther on  the  beach  he  law,  in 
a  fifhing  veffel,  two  other  bro- 
thers, James  and  John,  the 
fons  of  Zebedee,  diligently 
employed  in  repairing  their 
nets. 

20  Thefe  he  alfo  called, 
and  invited  to  follow  him — 
Upon  which  they  likewife  did 
not  hefitate  a  moment,  but 
left  their  father  and  the  fer- 
vants,  and  became  his  com- 
panions. 

§ — 21  With  thefe  atten- 
dants he  entered  the  city  Ca- 
pernaum on  the  fabbath  day, 
and  going  dire6lly  into  a 
place  of  public  worfhip,  in- 
ftrufted  the  people  v/ho  were 
there  affembled. 

22  And  the  whole*  audi- 
ence were  allonifhed  at  the 
fublimity  of  his  dodtrines — 
for  he  taught  them,  not  in 
the  trifling,  carelefs,  jejune 
manner  of  the  Jewilh  clergy, 
but  like  one  who  was  invelt- 
cd  with  a  divine  commifTion 
and  authority. 

2  3  There  was  in  that  aflem- 
bly  a  perfon,  who  was  at  times 
afflifled  with  madnefs,  and  a 
fit  of  diftradion  happening 
then  to  ftize  him, 

24  he  cried  out — Let  us 
alone,  thou  Jcius  of  Naza- 


T^he  Hillory  of  Jesus         Chap.  1. 

reth-— what  concern  hafl  thou 
with  us- — I  know  very  well 
who  thou  art — --thou  art  a  di- 
vine prophet. 

25  Jefus  then  authorita- 
tively commanded  the  rao;inor 
diieafe  to  quit  him  immedi- 
ately. 

26  Upon  which,  tho'  the 
man  was  now  in  the  midfl  of 
terrible  convulfions,  and  was 
roaring  in  a  wild  and  fright- 
ful manner,  he  was  inftanta- 
neoufly  reftored  to  his  reafon 
and  underftanding. 

27  At  the  fight  of  this  ftu- 
pendous  miracle  they  were  all 
ftruck  with  the  laft  aftoniih- 
ment,  and  faid  one  to  ano- 
ther— What  amazing  power 
is  here  exerted  !  What  divine 
inflruftions  hath  he  juft  deli- 
vered \  By  what  irrefiftible  en- 
ergy hath  he  removed  the 
molt  abftinate  and  inveterate 
difeafes ! 

28  His  fame  was  accord- 
ingly foon  celebrated  in  all 
the  country  around  Galilee. 

§-r— 29  When  the  public 
fervice  was  aver  \  he  went  di- 
redly  into  the  houfe  where 
Simon  and  Andrew  lived,  at- 
tended with  James  and  John : 

30  Upon  his  entrance  he 
was  told,  that  Simon's  mo- 
ther in  law  was  confined  to 
her  bed  by  a  violent  fever : 

31  Upon  this  information 
lie  went  into  her  room — took 
her  by  the  hand — raifed  her  up 

—  and 


Chap.  1.  3y   M  A  R  li.  109 

— - — and  immediately  every  I  them  alfo  the  joyful  news  of 
fymptom    vanifhed — fhe  got  I  the  Mefliah's  kingdom — for 


up  in  perfedt  health,  and 
provided  entertainment  for 
them. 

32  In  the  evening  when  the 
fun  was  down,  they  brought 
to  him  great  numbers  of  un- 
happy objedts,  diftrefled  with 
a  variety  of  dreadful  dilbr- 
ders : 

33  So  vafl  was  the  multi- 
tude, that  the  whole  city 
feemed  to  be  colleded  around 
the  houfc. 

34  All  this  variety  of  dif- 
eales  he  cured  inflantaneoully 
1 — reftored  to  the  ufe  of  their 
iiitellefls  many  perfons  la- 
bouring under  madnefs,  and 
fufFered  not  the  dift rafted  to 
publiih  his  charafter  by  any 
wild  and  noify  exclamations. 

§ — ^5  The  next  day  he 
rofe  a  confiderable  time  be- 
fore the  morning  dawned, 
and  privately  withdrew  into  a 
folitary  retreat,  to  offer  up 
his  devotions  to  God. 

36  As  foon  as  his  abfence 
was  dilcovered,  Simon  and 
his  other  attendants  went  in 
fearch  of  him. 

37  When  they  found  him, 
they  defired  he  would  return 

and  told  him  that  there 

were  prodigious  crowds  ex- 
pelling him. 

38  He  replied — The  other 
neighbouring  towns  claim  my 
regards  —  I  muft  impart  to 

4 


I  was  fent  to  diffufe  inftruc- 
tion  and  happinefs  to  all. 

39  Accordingly  through- 
out the  whole  region  of  Ga- 
lilee he  taught  in  all  their  reli- 
gious afiemblies,  and  healed 
the  mod  inveterate  difeafes. 

§ 40  Among  others,  a 

perfon  infeded  with  leprofy, 
approached  him  with  reve- 
rence, and  proftrated  himfelf 
at  his  feet,  imploring  him  to 
commiferate  his  unhappy  con- 
dition : 

41  Such  a  dreadful  fpec- 
tacle  affedlcd  Jefus  with  the 
tendereil  fympathy — extend- 
ing his  hand,  therefore,  he 
faid,  as  he  touched  him  —  I 
am  willing  to  relieve  thee — 
be  thy  cure  this  moment 
compleated : 

42  He  had  no  fooner  pro- 
nounced the  words,  but  the 
leprofy  vanifhed  and  his  flelh 
appeared  in  a  found  and  per- 
fcd  flate : 

43  He  then,  having  pe- 
remptorily charged  him  not 
to  divulge  it,  immediately 
difmified  him, 

44  and  fiid — acquaint  no 
perfon,  on  any  account,  with 
thy  miraculous  cure — but  go 
direftly  and  prefent  thyfelf  to 
the  prieft,  in  order  that  he 
may  examine  and  pronounce 
thee  healthy — and  offer  thole 
facriuces  to  God,  which  the 

law 


no 


T!he  Hiftory  of  J  e  s  u  S  Chap,  ii* 


law  prefcribes  upon  this  oc- 
cafion  : 

45  But  the  man  was  fo 
Iranlported  with  gratitude, 
that  as  foon  as  he  was  gone 
from  his  preience,  he  began 
to  pubhili  every  where  the 
miuGculous  cure  that  he  had 
juft  been  blefied  v;ith — fothat 
the  admiration  of  the  public 
was  fo  univerfally  excited  that 
he  could  not  appear  in  any  of 
the  cities  in  that  region,  but 
withdrew  into  folitary  and 
unfrequented  places,  where 
great  numbers  reforted  to  him 
trom  all  parts. 

CHAP.  II. 

t  Q  O  M  E  time  after,  Jefus 
»«^  came  again  to  Caper- 
naum— but  it  was  no  fooner 
reported  that  he  was  in  a  cer- 
tain family, 

2  than  immediately  a  vaft 
concourfe  of  people  gathered 
about  the  houfc,  fo  that  the 
court  before  the  door  was 
quite  full  of  people-— to  thefe 
he  delivered  an  inflrudlive 
difcourfe. 

3  While  he  was  preaching 
to  this  crowded  audience,  a 
number  of  men  defigned  to 
bring  to  him  an  helplefs  pa- 
ralytic, fuppotted  by  four 
perfons  : 

4  But  when  they  found 
they  could  not  come  near  him 
on  account  of  the  prodigious 


crowds,  they  afcended  the 
ftairs  on  the  outfide  of  the 
houfe — took  off  fome  of  the 
tiles,  in  order  to  force  open 
the  trap  door  that  was  in  the 

roof- and  thro'  this  door 

they  let  down  with  cords  the 
couch,  on  which  the  mifer- 
able  paralytic  lay  : 

5  Jefus,  when  he  faw  the 
unhappy  creature  defcend  in 
this  manner,  confcious  of  the 
faith  which  they  repofed  in 
his  miraculous  power,  faid  to 
him — Son,  all  the  fins,  which 
you  have  hitherto  committed, 
are  from  this  moment  ex- 
punged. 

6  When  fome  of  the  Pha- 
rifees,  who  fat  in  the  room 
where  he  was,  heard  thefe 
expreffions,  their  hearts  fe- 
cretly  fuggefted  the  following 
fentiments 

7  What  horrid  blafphemy 
hath  this  perfon  juft  uttered! 
— What  impious  profanenefs 
for  him  to  arrogate  a  power, 
which  belongs  folely  to  God! 
—  none  but  He  can  forgive 
fin. 

8  Jefus  who  perfe(5lly  kne\^? 
the  human  mind,  and  every 
fentiment  that  pafi"ed  thcrc^ 
turned  to  them  and  faid  — 
Why  do  you  permit  your 
hearts  to  indulge  and  dictate 
fuch  invidious  th.oughts } 

o  For  which  is  cafieft,  I 
appeal  to  you,  to  forgive  his 
fins,  or  by  a  word   to  make 

this 


Chap.il.  hy   M 

this  miferable  wretch,  whom 
you  fee  enervated  and  fhak- 
ing  with  the  palfy,  to  rife,  to 
take  up  his  couch  on  his  ilioul- 
ders,  and  walk  home. 

10  I  will  give  you  an  evi- 
dent demonftration  that  the 
fon  of  man  is  endowed  with 
power  on  earth  to  forgive  fin 
— Having  faid  this  he  turned 
to  the  paralytic, 

11  and  faid  to  him — Rife 
— -  take  up  thy  couch —  and 
walk  home  : 

12  That  moment  he  found 
himfelf  nerved  with  ftrength 
■ — he  inflantly  rofe  up — threw 
his  couch  upon  his  fhouldcrs 
— and  carried  it  through  the 
crowd — fo  that  all  who  were 
fpe(5lators  of  this  fa6l  were 
ftruck  with  the  laft  aftonifli- 
ment,  and  with  devout  gra- 
titude adored  God,  unani- 
moufiy  declaring  —  That  no 
age,  or  nation,  ever  faw  fuch 
miraculous  power  difplayed  ! 

§  —  13  After  this  he  a- 
gain  left  the  town,  and  went 
along  the  fhore  of  the  lake, 
whither  the  multitude  follow- 
ed him,  to  whom  he  deliver- 
ed important  and  ufeful  in- 
ftruclion. 

14  Advancing  farther,   he 


ARK, 


III 


pafTed  by  the  collector's  of- 
fice, where  he  faw  Matthew 
the  fon  of  Alpheus  fitting, 
whom  he  invited  to  follow 
him — upon  which  he  imme- 
diately left  his  employment, 
and  joined  the  red  of  his  at- 
tendants. 

1 5  This  perfon  invited  Je- 
fus  and  his  difciples  to  an  en- 
tertainment, which  he  had 
provided  at  his  houfe  —  at 
which  there  were  many  col- 
lectors and  other  perfons  of 
immoral  charafters,  v.'ho  fat 
down  with  Jefus  and  his  fe- 
led;  companions. 

16  When  the  Scribes  and 
Pharifees  faw  him  eating  with 
perfons  of  fuch  profligate 
lives,  they  faid  to  his  difciples 
— What  induces  your  mailer 
to  aflbciate  with  men  guilty 
of  fuch  notorious  and  fcanda- 
lous  immoralities  P. 

1 7  Jefus  overhearing  their 
difcourfe,  replied  —  As  the 
healthy  have  no  occafion  for 
the  phyfician,  but  medicine 
is  only  of  ufe  to  the  indifpof- 
ed— fo  my  defign  in  coming 
into  the  world  was  not  to  in-* 
vite  the  virtuous— thefe  are 
fuch  already  as  I  am  defirous 
they  fhould  be  —  but  to  en- 

p  Thefe  collectors  of  tribute  were  univet-fally  detefted  in  all  the  Roman 
provinces  on  account  of  their  intolerable  oppreflion  and  unfeelino-  crueltr. 
"  Mithridates  made  an  incurfion  into  Alia,  which  then  fufFered  intole- 
rable miferles  from  the  ufurers  and  publicans,  who  feized  and  devoured 
every  perfon's  property  like  fo  many  infatiable  harpies."     Plutarch  Lu- 

'     " p.  921. 


cull.  ()ob.  See  alio  a  iliocking  account  of  their  iniquities 


gag^ 


112 


T^he  Hiil:ory  of  Jesus         Chap.  il. 


gage  profligate  finners  to  re- 
pentance and  amendment  of 
life. 

§ 1 8  About  this  time 

the  dijciples  of  John  and  of 
the  Pharifces  came  to  Jefus 
in  a  body  and  faid — Why  do 
John  and  the  Pharifees  enure 
their  difciples  to  fuch  fevere 
mortification  and  rigid  aulte- 
rities — while  you  permit  your 
difciples  to  indulge  thcmlelves 
in  fo  free  and  unreftrained  a 
manner  ? 

19  Jefus  replied — Can  the 
friends  and  companions  of  the 
bridegroom  fait,  and  mace- 
rate their  bodies,  during  the 
days  of  nuptial  feftivity  and 
joy  —  while  the  bridegroom 
is  with  them,  it  would  be 
highly  improper  and  prepof- 
terous  to  pra6life  the  rigours 
of  abftinence,  and  to  indulge 
the  gloom  of  melancholy  : 

20  The  time,  however,  will 
foon  come,  when  the  bride- 
orroom  fhall  be  violently  torn 

from  them then  fliall  the 

days  of  their  mourning  and 
melancholy  commence. 

21  But  for  me  to  enjoin  a 
number  of  fevere  and  painful 
obfervances  upon  my  difci- 
ples, who  have  been  educa- 
ted in  the  manner  they  have 
been,  and  but  lately  embrac- 
ed my  caufe,  would  induce 


them  immediately  to  abandon 
and  defert  me,  and  would  be 
a  conduct:  as  imprudent  and 
abfurd  as  for  a  man  to  join  a 
large  piece  of  ftron^  new 
cloath  to  an  old  and  oolbletc 
garment  which  would  only 
contribute  to  make  it  tear  the 
worfe : 

22  Or,  for  me  to  impofe  a 
courle  of  rigid  auflerities  up- 
on my  difciples,  would  be  as 
incongruous  and  fatal,  as  for 
a  man  to  put  new  wine  into 
old  fkins  %  by  the  fermen- 
tation of  which  the  fkins 
would  be  burft  and  the  liquor 
fpilt — and  as  men,  that  they 
may  incur  no  detriment,  pru- 
dently put  new  wine  into  new 
fkins  :  fo  the  fame  difcreet 
treatment  is  requifite  to  pre- 
ferve  my  difciples  inviolably 
fteady  and  attached  to  me. 

§ — 23  It  happened  about 
this  time, that  as  Jefus  was  walk- 
ing through  ibme  corn  fields, 
his  difciples  plucked  Ibme  of 
the  ears  as  they  pafied  along. 

24  The  Pharifees,  who  were 
prefent,  conceived  violent  in- 
dignation at  their  conduft, 
and  laid  to  Jefus — Do  you  not 
obferve  tiie  behaviourof  your 
difciples — Why  do  you  fuffer 
them  thus  to  violate  the  fa- 
cred  duties  of  the  fabhath  ? 

25  To  tliefe  remonftrances 


•         onei'  5'j (ppom,  KrtpTcj;  dcvp)i?, 

MvM  tv  ttiyiKf.    Homer.  11.  r.  246,  247. 


Jefui 


by   Mar  i^. 


Chap.  iii» 

Jellis  anlwered  —  Have  you 
forgot  whac  David  did  on  a 
fimilar  occafion,  when  he  and 
his  attendants  felt  the  keen 
fenfations  of  hunger  ? 

26  Do  you  not  remem- 
ber, that  in  Abiathar  the 
prieft's  time  he  went  into  the 
houfe  of  God,  and  refrefhed 
himfelf  and  his  men  with  the 
facred  bread,  which  it  is  high- 
ly impious  forany,  but  priells, 
to  tafte. 

27  The  fabbath,  he  told 
them,  was  defigned  to  fub- 
ferve  the  interefts  and  happi- 
nefs  of  man — and  not  man  in 
cafes  of  urgent  neceflity  to  be 
mifcrable  rather  than  violate 
it. 

28  He  added  moreover — 
that  the  ion  of  man  was  em- 
powered to  fuperfede  that  fe- 
verity  and  rigour  in  the  obfer- 
vation  of  the  fabbath,  which 
theirfuperllition  had  impofed. 

CHAP.    III. 

1   'T'^HERE  was  in  that 
-»■       religious   alTembly, 
into  which  he  entered,  a  man 
who  had  a  withered  hand. 

2  This  incident  foon  ex- 
cited all  the  attention  of  the 
Phariiees  as  it  was  the  fab- 
bath day  —  flattering  them- 
fclves  that  if  he  fhould  cure 
this  perfon,  it  would  afford 
them  ample  foundation  for 
Vol.  I. 


fperfi- 


their  calumnies  and 
ons. 

3  When  Jefus  faw  this  un- 
happy fpeftacle,  he  bad  him 
(land  up  in  the  midil  of  the 
congregation. 

4  He  turned  then  to  the 
Pharifees  and  faid — Whether 
is  it  lawful  on  the  fabbath  day 
to  perform  anions  of  bene- 
volence, or  of  malevolence — 
to  fave  or  to  deilroy  life  ?  — 
They  kept  a  fullen  filence. 

5  Jefus  looking  round  a- 
bout,  and  filled  with  indig- 
nation and  grief  at  the  deter- 
mined malice  and  incorrigible 
obft^nacy  that  lurked  in  their 
hearts,  ikid  to  the  man — -Ex- 
tend thy  hand — he  extended 
it — and  it  was  inftantly  reftor- 
ed  to  as  perfed  a  ftate  as  the 
other. 

6  The  Pharifees  then  quit- 
ted the  place— and  immedi- 
ately formed  a  confederacy 
with  the  Herodians  to  murder 
him. 

7  Jefus,  knowing  their 
fanguinary  intentions,  pri- 
vately withdrew  with  his  dil- 
ciplcs  to  the  lake — whither 
there refortedprodig^ious  mul- 
titudes of  people  from  all 
parts  of  Judea,  particularly 
from  Gahiee, 

8  from  Jerufalem,  from 
Idumea,  and  from  the  coun- 
tries that  lay  beyond  Jordan. 
Vaft  crowds  came  even  as  tar 

I  as 


^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus 


J14 

as  from  the  fnrrounds  of  Tyre 
and  Sidcn,  attraded  by  the 
fame  of  his  miracles,  which 
had  penetrated  into  thofe  re- 
mote parts. 

9  Jefus  was  fo  incommod- 
ed by  the  tumultuous  conflu- 
ence of  this  innumerable  mul- 
titude, that  he  was  obliged 
to  order  his  difciples  to  get  a 
boat  ready. 

I  o  For  tliofe  who  laboured 
under  any  maladies  were  fo 
impatient  to  have  them  re- 
moved, and  preflTed  with  luch 
violence  to  touch  him,  that 
he  was  in  danger  of  being  o- 
verwhelmed  and  beat  down 
by  their  impetuofity. 

I I  Of  theie  he  cured  vaft 
numbers — But  thofe  who  were 
affli6led  with  madnefs  no  foon- 

Tavv   him,    but  they  cried 


er 


hou 


out  in  wild  diftradion — 1 
art  the  fon  of  God  1 

12  But  thele  public  pro- 
fcfuons  Jefus  induftrioully 
fupprelTedand  filenced,  know- 
ing the  pernicious  confe- 
qutnces  that  would  immedi- 
ately arifefrom  his  approving 
and  afluming  fuch  a  title. 

§ — 13  About  this  time  he 
afcended  an  hill,  and  feledcd 
from  among  the  crowd  twelve 
perfons,  whofe  difpofitions 
he  was  perfeftly  acquainted 
with  —  who,  according  ar. 
they  were  nominated,  went 
up  to  him. 

I  A.  Thefc  he  chufc  to  be 


Chap,  ill, 

his  infeparable  companions, 
and  the  conftant  witnefies  of 
his  adions,  and  to  publifh  the 
joyful  news  of  the  fpeedy  e- 
reclion  of  the  Mefliah's  king- 
dom. 

15  To  thefe  he  defigned 
to  impart  miraculous  powers, 
and  to  enable  to  cure  the  moft 
ft ub born  and  inveterate  dif- 
eafes. 

16  Their  names  were  Si- 
mon, whom  he  afterwards 
called  Peter  : 

17  James  and  John  the 
fons  of  Zebedee,  whom  he 
diftinguiihed  by  the  name  of 
Boanerges,  which  fignifies, 
the  fons  of  thunder : 

18  Andrew,  Philip,  Bar- 
tholomew, Matthew, Thomas, 
and  another  James,  the  fon  of 
Alpheus,  Thaddeus,  Simon 
the  Zealot, 

19  and  Judas  Ifcariot,  who 
afterwards  in  fo  perfidious  a 
manner  betrayed  him — Thefe 
twelve  foon  after  accompa- 
nied him  to  a  certain  family. 

20  But  they  were  no  fooner 
entered,  than  they  were  fur- 
rounded  with  fuch  a  tumul- 
tuous concourfe  of  people,  as 
rendered  it  impoflible  for  them 
to  get  any  refrefhment. 

21  hiis  friends  who  were 
in  the  houfe  hearing  the  con- 
fufed  clamour,  and  feeing  the 
tumult  and  vehemence  that 
was  ufed  on  this  occafion  to 
gain  accefs  to  him,  could  not 

forbear 


Chap.  iii.  by 

forbear  declaring  that  they 
thought  the  mob  v/as  i'eized 
with  diftraclion  and  madneis, 
and  went  out  to  reilrain  "^  and 
pacify  them. 

§  —  22  The  Scribes  and 
Pharifees,  who  were  come 
down  from  Jerufalem,  being 
witnefies  of  the  miraculous 
cures  which  he  wrought  at 

o 

this  time,  faid — No  wonder 
that  he  performs  fuch  feats, 
for  he  is  a  confederate  with 
Beelzebub,  the  fupreme  fo- 
vereign  of  the  daemons. 

23  Jefus  immediately  ad- 
dreffed  himfelf  to  them  and 
expofed  the  abfurdity  of  their 
reafoning,  in  the  following 
manner—  Is  it  reafonable  to 
think  that  Satan  would  com- 
bine with  any  perfon  to  lelfen 
his  own  power,  and  deftroy 
his  own  interefts  ? 

24  If  any  kingdom  is  torn 
by  inteftine  faftions  and  di- 
vifions,  it  cannot  be  of  any 
long  duration. 

25  Or  if  internal  difcord 
and  animofities  are  fomented 
in  any  family,  it  is  impoffible 
for  that  family  to  continue 
for  any  confiderable  time  in 
a  Piourifhing  condition. 

26  By  a  parity  of  reafon 
therefore  it  follows,  that  to 
iuppofe  me  to  be  in  a  confe- 
deracy with  Satan,  is  to  fup- 


M  A  R  K. 


115 

pofe  that  Satan  would  kindle 
an  infurreclion  in  his  own  em- 
pire, and  voluntarily  contri- 
bute to  its  ruin  and  dilTolu- 
tion. 

2  7  You  ought  rather  to  con- 
clude, that  I  am  polfeficd  of 
power  greatly  fuperiour  to  that 
of  this  infernal  prince — fince 
no  one  would  dare  forcibly  to 
enter  the  houfe  of  a  ilrong 
mi-.n  and  plunder  it,  unlefs 
he  knew  himfelf  to  be  endu- 
ed with  ftrength  that  would 
enable  him  to  bind  and  con- 
fine him,  while  he  pillaged 
it. 

28  I  folemnly  afilire  you, 
the  moft  atrocious  crimes  that 
men  fhall  perpetrate,  and  the 
moft  opprobrious  calumnies 
that  they  fliall  utter,  fhall  be 
forgiven  them  upon  fincere 
and  unfeigned  repentance : 

29  But  he  who  fhall  wil- 
fully infult  and  fatyrize  the 
miraculous  operations  of  God, 
by  afcribing  them  to  the  a- 
gency  of  dsemons,  refiPcs  the 
greateit  evidence  that  the  wif- 
dom  of  God  hath  thought 
proper  to  exhibit  before  men, 
and  is  confequently  preclud- 
ed from  the  divine  forgivenefs, 
and  will  finally  incur  everlaft- 


mg  deftruclion. 


30  This   he  faid,  becaufe 
they    imputed  his    miracle^ 


s  Cimon  reftrained  and  reduced  the  licentioufnefs  'of  the  populace, 
SnfATi/  K^^i  c-vnahhi  tov  J^n^oy*    Plutarch  Cimon.  p.  891.  Steph. 

I    2         .  to 


ii6 


The  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  {y. 


to  a  confederacy  with  Beelze- 
bub. 

§ — 31  About  this  time 
his  mother  and  liis  brothers 
came  to  the  place  where  he 
was,  but  being  prevented  by 
the  furrounding  multitude 
from  approaching  him,  defir- 
cd  that  they  would  inform 
him  of  their  arrival. 

32  Someofthepeople,there- 
fore,  acquainted  him  that  his 
inother  and  his  brothers  were 
(landing  on  the  outfide  of 
the  crowd  and  wanted  to  fpeak 
to  him. 

33  When  he  heard  this, 
he  replied — Who  is  my  mo- 
ther? Who  are  my  brothers  ? 

34  Then  looking  upon  the 
circle  of  his  difciples,  who 
were  fitting  around  him,  with 
pathetic   tcndernefs,  he    faid 

See  here  is  my  mother  ! 

See  here  are  my  brothers! 

0,^  For  whofoever  fincerely 
and  conftantly  obeys  the  will 
of  God,  is  united  to  me  in 
the  ftrongeft  bonds  of  tlie 
moft  endearing  affedion. 

CHAP.    IV. 

I  TT  E  removed  again  to 
*^  the  fide  of  the  ialcc, 
where  fuch  an  immenfe  mul- 
titude of  people  coUefted 
round  him,  that  he  found  it 
neceflary  to  go  aboard  a  vef- 
fel,  and  from  the  deck  to  de- 
liver his  difcourfcs  to  the  crowd 


as  they    ftood  on  the  rifing 
beach. 

2  Judging  it  proper  to 
convey  his  public  inilrudi- 
ons  in  the  vehicle  of  fiftion, 
he  now  addreflfed  to  them  the 
following  fable. 

3  An  hufbandman  went 
to  low  his  ofrounds  : 

4  And  Icattering  the  feed 
promifcuoufly  in  every  direc- 
tion, fome  chanced  to  light 
upon  the  hard  beaten  patii, 
which  the  feathered  tribes 
colledling  in  great  flocks,  and 
impelled  by  hunger,  inftant- 
ly  picked  up  : 

5  Some  fell  upon  rocks 
that  were  juft  covered  with  a 
thin  flight  furface  of  foil  — 
which  immediately  fliot  up, 
as  there  was  no  depth  of 
mould,  into  which  it  might 
be  admitted : 

6  But  no  fooner  was  the 
fun  rifen  and  begun  to  aflail 
it  with  its  fcorching  beams, 
but  being  dellitute  of  roots, 
it  dwindled  and  died  : 

7  Some  fell  among  weeds 
—  which  fliooting  their  rank 
luxuriant  tops  over  it,  choak- 
ed  and  killed  it : 

8  Others  fell  upon  good 
foil  — in  whofe  genial  bofoni 
being  foflered  and  nouriflicd, 
it  blefilrd  the  huflDandman 
with  a  rich  and  copious  har- 
veft. 

9  He  concluded  this  apo- 
logue with  faying — Let  every 

one, 


Chap.  Iv.  by    M 

one,  who  is  endowed  with  the 
powers  of  reafon  and  imder- 
Itanding,  employ  them  in  the 
diligent  ftudy  of  truth  and 
virtue. 

§; — lo  When  he  had  re- 
cited this  fable,  his  difciplcs, 
who  flood  round  him,  de- 
fired  him  in  private  to  favour 
them  with  the  explication  of 
it. 

1 1  He  replied — Your  vir- 
tuous and  docile  difpofitions 
entitle  you  to  an  unrcferved 
acquaintance  with  the  pecu- 
liar truths  and  difcoveries  of 
the  gofpel  difpenfation — but 
with  regard  to  the  mixed  mul- 
titude, who  are  Handing  on 
the  fhore,  their  prejudices 
make  it  necefTary  for  me  to 
throw  over  naked  truth  the 
veil  of  fiftion. 

12  For  the  moral  difpofi- 
tions of  the  prefent  age  are 
exad'ly  thofe  defcribed  by 
Efaiah  in  the  following  paf- 
fage —  "  They  fee  the  moft 
fignal  proofs  of  divine  power, 
yet  are  not  convinced — they 
hear  reports  of  the  moft  illui- 
trious  miracles,  but  give  them 
no  credit — and  lufFer  not  the 
moft  ftriking  evidence  to  af- 
feft  them  in  fuch  a  manner 
as  to  make  them  reform  their 
vices  and  qualify  them  for 
the  divine  forgive nefs." 

13  He  then  faid  to  them 
— If  you  are  not  able  to  find 
ou^  the  meaning  of  this  eafy 


A  R   K.  117 

\  and  perfpicuous  fimilitude, 
how  much  lefs  will  you  be 
able  to  underftand  others  more 
obfcure  and  intricate  ? 

14  He  then  gave  them  the 

following  explanation By 

the  fower  is  denoted  the  fon  of 

man by  the  feed  his  doc- 

rine  : 

15  By  the  hard  beaten 
path  are  repreiented  thofe,  on 
whom  the  truths  and  doc- 
trines of  the  gofpel  are  able 
to  make  no  lading  imprefli- 
ons,  and  who  yield  up  their 
principles  an  eafy  prey  to  the 
firft  adverfary,  who  attacks 
them  : 

16  By  the  rocks  (lightly 
covered  with  foil  are  intended 
thofe,  who  are  immediately 
ftruck  with  the  evidence  of 
chriftianity  as  foon  as  propof- 
ed  to  them,  and  embrace  it 
with  eager  tranfport — 

17 — but  having  no  native 
good nefs  of  heart,  into  which 
its  principles  may.ftrike  root, 
their  convi6lions  prove  tem- 
porary and  tranfient — for  no 
fooner  does  any  perfecution 
affail  them  for  their  religion, 
but  they  immediately  re- 
nounce it  with  contempt : 

18  The  feed  that  fell  a- 
mong  weeds  indicates  thofe, 
who  efpoufe  the  dodlrine  of 
the  gofpel, 

19  but  worldly  anxiety, 
the  infatiable  luft  of  gold,  and 
a  raging  habitual  pafllon  for 

I  3  fenllial 


Il8  ne  Hiftory 

fenfual  gratifications,  by  their 
baleful  influence  choak  the 
principles  of  virtue,  intercept 
all  nourifhment  from  it,  and 
kill  it  before  it  hath  attained  to 
its  maturity : 

20  The  good  and  gener- 
ous foil  correfponds  to  the 
genuine  probity  and  native 
honefty  of  thofe  who  impar- 
tially examine  the  evidences 
of  the  gofpel,  have  their  minds 
open  to  conviction,  fuffer  its 
truths  to  influence  their  con- 
du6t,  and  bring  forth  the 
fruits  of  righteoulhefs  accord- 
ing to  their  refpedive  abilities 
and  different  opportunities. 

21  He  moreover   faid  to 

them. The  knowledge, 

which  I  impart  to  you  in  pri- 
vate, you  are  freely  to  com- 
municate to  others — for  men 
do  not  light  a  lanip  with  a 
dcfign  to  (hut  it  up  in  a  vef- 
fel,  but  to  fet  it  in  fome  con- 
fpicuous  place  to  flicd  its  ufe- 
ful  beams  around. 

2  2  Let  the  facred  truths, 
therefore,  in  which  I  inftrud 
you  in  private,  be  publickly 
divulged  to  the  world,  and 
let  mankind  profit  from  thofe 
ufcful  leflbns,  which  have 
been  dilated  to  you  in  fe- 
crefy  and  folitude. 


of  Jesus  Cllap,  iv, 

23  And  be  careful  to  at- 
tend with  diligence  to  the 
doctrines  I  deliver  to  you. 

24  For  let  me  aifure  you, 
that  your  own  flock  of  know- 
ledge and  happinefs  fhall  be 
augmented  in  proportioa  to 
your  generous  defire  and  pro- 
penfity  to  communicate  in-i 
fl:rudlion  toothers. 

25  For  he,  who  hath  by  af- 
fiduous  culture  already  gain- 
ed any  meafures  of  knowledge, 
fliail  receive  a  greater  and  no- 
bler acceflion  to  his  prefent 
fund — but  he  who  fufters  his 
mind  to  rufl:  in  floth  and  in- 
dolence, will  in  time  forfeit 
thofe  very  improvements  that 
he  may  have  already  made. 

§ — 26  He  afterwards  de- 
livered the  following  parable 
to  the  aflfembled  multitude 
—  The  gofpel  difpenfation 
may  be  compared  to  an  huf- 
bandman,  v.ho  fows  his 
ground. 

2  7  The  feed  committed  to 
the  foil,  after  a  few  fuccef- 
fions  of  day  and  night,  im- 
perceptibly vegetates — peeps 
above  the  furface  —  fprings 
higher  and  higher  '. 

28  For  the  earth's  genial 
bofom  fpontaneoufly  pro- 
duces, jirff  the  verdant  blade 


'  Seminis  modo  fpargenda  funt,  quod  quamvis  fit  exiguum,  cum  oc- 
Cupavit  Jdoneum  locum,  vires  fuas  explicat  et  ex  minimo  in  maximos 
audus  diffunditur.   Senecae  Qpcra,  Epifl.  38.  p.  295.  Ed.  Amft. 


then 


Chap.  iv.  by   M 

" — then  the  ear — afterwards 
the  fwelling  grain,  gradually 
filling  the  ear. 

29  When  the  harvcft  ap- 
proaches, and  it  is  arrived  at 
its  maturity,  it  is  reaped  and 
collected  inco  the  barn. 

§ — 30  By  whatfimilitude, 
faid  he  again,  fhall  I  repre- 
fent  the  gol'p-l  dilpeniation  ? 

3 1  It  may  be  fitly  compar- 
ed to  a  Tingle  grain  of  muf- 
tard  feed,  which  is  one  of  the 
fmalleil  feeds  that  any  plant 
produceth : 

32  but  when  committed 
to  the  ground,  it  becomes 
the  talleft  of  the  vegetable 
tribe — for  it  ihoots  up  a  tail 

and  {lately  ftem -throws 

out  large  luxuriant  branches, 
cloathed  with  a  foliage  thick 
and  ample  enough  to  afford 
fhade  and  llieker  to  the  fowls 
of  heaven. 

33  Many  fuch  fables  as 
thefe  he  recited  to  the  multi- 
tude, from  a  tendernefs  to 
tlieir  prepoffefijons  and  weak- 
nelies,  which  would  not  have 
permitted  them,  all  at  once, 
to  receive  plain  and  undif- 
guifed  truths. 

l£~  34  From  a  confcioufnefs, 
therefore,  of  the  tempers  and 
difpofitions  of  his  audience, 
he  conftantly  conveyed  his 
public  inftruvftions  in  the  ve- 
hicle of  fidbion  —  but  after- 
wards in  private  he  gave  the 
explication  %o  his  dilciples. 


ARK.  119 

§ — '2S  ^N"  the  evening  he 
ordered  his  dilciples  to  row 
to  the  other  fide  of  the  lake. 

^6  Havingdilmiifed,  there- 
fore, the  multitude,  they  fer- 
ried him  in  the  boat,  out  of 
which  he  had  lately  been  de- 
livering his  difcourfes,  in 
company  with  fome  other 
boats. 

^y  But  in  their  paflage  it 
fuddenly  blew  a  dreadful 
Itorm,  which  beat  the  billows 
into  the  boat,  lb  that  it  wajs 
aim  oft  filled  with  water. 

38  In  this  imminent  dan- 
ger he  was  at  the  flern,  funk 
in  profound  fleep — -His  difci- 
ples,  alarmed  for  their  fafety, 
immediately  waked  him  and 
faid— TiVJ after !  can  you  be  (o 
unconcerned  when  we  are  this 
moment  all  ofoins;  to  be  fwal- 
lowed  up  in  the  deep ! 

39  He  rofe,  and  v/ith  an 
authoritative  voice  faid  to  the 
winds  — be  ftill  —  and  to  the 
waves — 'Ceafe  your  roaring— 
The  words  were  no  fooner 
uttered,  than  not  the  leaft 
whifper  of  air  was  heard,  and 
the  furface  of  the  lake  became 
fmooth  as  glafs. 

40  He  then  laid  to  his  d if- 
ciples  —  Why  do  you  fuffer 
yourfelves  to  be  overcome 
with  fuch  vain  terrours — after 
fo  many  proofs  as  I  have  given 
you  of  miraculous  power,  why 
do  you  ftill  diftruft  it  "i 

41  All  who  were  wUneiTes 

I  4  Qf 


120 


HJje  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  v. 

of  fo  amazing  a  fpectacle  were 
flruck  with  awful  reverence 
and  horrour,  and  Taid  one  to 


another  —  What  aftonifliing 
power  is  heredifplayed !  What 
divine  perfonage  is  this,\vhofe 
ibvereign  mandate  controuls 
the  ftormy  winds  and  tempef- 
tuous  lea ! 

CHAP.   V. 

1  npHEYcroiTed  the  lake 
•^       and    landed    in   the 
country  of  the  Gadarenes. 

2  But  he  had  no  fooner 
quittedthevciTel,  than  he  faw 
a  demoniac  rulhing  from  the 
tombs,  and  furiouily  running 
to  meet  him. 

3  This  mifcrable  objeft 
lived  and  ranged  among  the 
gloomy  fepulchres  of  the  dead 
• — for  in  his  fits  of  diftradion 
his  fury  and  ftrength  were  fo 
violent,  that  no  art  or  force 
could  bind  him. 

4  For  there  had  been  fre- 
quent attempts  made  to  con- 
fme  him  in  ilrong  chains  and 
fetters,  but  he  always  burft 
his  irons,  and  tore  his  bonds 
aflinder — fo  that  his  fury  and 
ciidraction  baffled  all  human 
power  to  reftrain  and  fubdue 
it. 

5  Day  and  niglit  was  he 
conftantly  wandering  on  the 
mountains,  or  roving  among 
tiie  monuments — roaring — 
toaming  —  and  mangling  his 
body  with  flones, 


6  This  man  being  at  a 
confiderable  diftance  from 
Jefus,  no  fooner  dele ricdhimx, 
but  he  run  with  the  utmoft 
precipitation  to  him,  and  pro- 
ftrated  himfelf  at  his  feet. 

7  He  then  cried  with  a 
loud  and  horrible  vociferation 
— O  Jefus,  thou  fon  of  the 
I'upreme  God  !  —  what  bufi- 
nefs  hall  thou  with  me — I  beg 
and  conjure  thee  for  God's 
fake  that  thou  wouldefl  not 
torment  me. 

8  He  entreated  thus  im- 
portunately, becaufe  Jefus 
commanded  ths  dsmon  to 
quit  him. 

9  Jefus  afked  the  man  his 
name — My  name,  laid  he,  is 
Legion — for  a  legion  of  d Si- 
mons is  within  me ! 

10  The  wretch  then  began 
in  a  frantic  flrain  to  expoftu- 
late,  and  to  implore  in  th<? 
moll  pathetic  terms,  that  he 
would  not  eject  his  daemons 
beyond  the  precinds  of  that 
country. 

i  I  It  happened  that  there 
was  a  very  large  herd  of  fwine 
feeding  about  the  neighbour- 
ing mountains. 

12  The  madman,  uttering 
fuch  wild  extravagant  things, 
as  perfons  difordered  in  thei;* 
inteUe(5ls  do,  defired  that  the 
dac^mons,  which  were  in  him, 
might  enter  into  the  fwine. 

13  Jefus  accordingly  fuf- 
fcrcd  t!ic  fv/ine  ;q  be  fei7c4 

with 


Chap.  V.  by   M 

with  madnefs — and  inftantly 
the  whole  herd  confifting  of 
about  two  thoufand,  rulhed 
forward  in  wild  confufion — 
hurried  violently  down  a  fteep 
precipice — and  perilhed  in  the 
waves. 

14  The  keepers,  who  were 
witneffes  of  this  fcene,  fled 
immediately  with  the  greateft 
precipitation,  and  alarmed  the 
city  and  country  with  the  a- 
mazing  fight  they  had  feen, 
and  with  the  dreadful  lofs  they 

had  fuflained Upon  this, 

vaft  numbers  flocked  to  the 
place  to  convince  themfelves 
of  the  truth  of  this  flrange 
relation. 

15  This  great  concourfe 
of  people,  when  they  faw  the 
madman,  whofe  frantic  fury 
had  fo  frequently  baffled  all 
their  art  and  ftrength,  fitting 
calmly,  and  talking  rational- 
ly, they  were  fl:ruck  with  the 
lafi:  aftoniihment  and  tcrrour. 

16  For  thofe,  who  had 
been  fpe6tators  of  every  thing 
that  paflTed  upon  this  occafion, 
had  recounted  to  them  every 
minute  particular  concerning 
the  dasmoniac  and  the  lofs  of 
the  herd. 

1 7  The  people  of  that  re- 
gion forming  terrible  appre- 
henfions  of  the  power  of  Je- 
fus  from  v/hat  they  faw  and 
beard,  unanimoufly  impjored 
him  to  remove  out  of  their 
j:ountr)\ 


A   R   K. 


121 


1 8  Upon  their  requeft  he 
returned  to  the  veifel  —  in- 
to which  the  madman  beg- 
ged he  would  admit  him,  and 
importunately  defired  he 
might  go  along  with  him. 

19  Butjefus  difmifl^edhim 
and  faid Go  to  thy  relati- 
ons andcountrymen,  and  free- 
ly report  the  miraculous  mer- 
cy which  God  hath  fliowed 
thee. 

20  Accordingly  he  depart- 
ed and  publiflied  in  all  the 
region  of  Decapohs  v/hat  di- 
vine power  Jefus  had  exerted 
in  his  recovery — and  all  who 
knew  his  former  condition 
now  furveyed  him  with  afto- 
nifhment. 

§ — 21  Repassing  the  lake 
upon  his  arrival  on  the  oppo- 
fite  jfhore,  a  prodigious  mul- 
titude foon  coUeded  round 
him. 

22  Among  others  came  a 
very  eminent  perfonage  called 
Jairus,  the  principal  ruler  of 
the  fynagogue  \  who  approach- 
ed Jefus,  and  with  the  great- 
eft  humility  and  reverence 
proftrated  himfelf  at  his  feet 


23  telling  him  in  a  flood  of 
paternal  grief  and'tendernefs, 
that  he  had  left  his  daughter 
in  the  agonies  of  death — but 
was  perfuaded,  that  if  he  would 
coiidefcend  only  to  lay  his' 
hands  upon  her,  fhe  would 
lie  reftored  to  life. 

24  Jefus 


122 


24  Jefus  did  not  hefitate  a 
moment,  but  went  away  im- 
mediately with  him  —  incir- 
cled  and  crowded  by  an  im- 
menfe  multitude,  who  eager- 
ly prefled  to  fee  him  exert 
his  miraculous  power. 

25  But  in  his  way  to  the 
ruler's  houfe,  a  woman,  who 
had  for  twelve  years  been 
greatly  afflided  with  a  flux  of 
blood, 

2  6  who  had  applied  to  fe- 
veral  phyficians  without  any 
fuccefs,  and  had  fpent  all  her 
fortune  in  making  trial  of  va- 
rious remedies,  which  were  fo 
far  from  being  of  any  benefit 
to  her,  that  they  only  aggra- 
vated her  diforder, 

27  having  heard  of  the 
fame  of  Jefus,  which  was 
celebrated  every  where,  mix- 
ed with  the  crowd,  and, 
coming  fottly  and  impercep- 
tibly behind  him,  juft  touch- 
ed the  hem  of  his  garment. 

2  8  For  fhe  flattered  herfelf, 
that  if  flie  could  but  attain  the 
happinefs  of  the  flighteft 
touch,  fhe  fhould  receive  a 
miraculous  cure. 

29  That  miOmcnt  the  blood 
ceafed  to  flow,  and  fhe  in- 
ftantly  felt,  by  the  moft 
grateful  and  happy  fenfations, 
that  her  difeafe  was  no  more. 

30  But  Jefus  immediately 
confcious  of  the  falutary  pow- 
er that  had  thus  been  educed 
frorn   him,   turned  fuddenly 


T^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  v. 

round,    and  aflced   who   the 
perfon    was,    that   had    juil 


was,    that   had 
touched  him. 

3 1  The  difciples  anfwcred 
— How  is  it  poliible  but  thi^ 
fliould  happen,  when  the 
crowd  is  prcfling  in  fo  tumul- 
tuous a  manner  round  you  ? 

32  Jefus  then  looked  a- 
bout  to  difcover  the  perfon. 

33  The  woman,  knowing 
that  fhe  was  the  obje6b  of  his 
enquiries,  came  terrified  and 
trembling — and  falling  down 
at  his  feet  related  every  cir- 
cumftance. 

34  Plefaidtoher — ^Daugh- 
ter, your  confidence  in  my 
power  hath  effecfted  your  cure 
— Go,  and  aflfure  you rfeif  that 
your  diforder  will  never  re- 
turn. 

35  While  he  was  fpcaking 
thefe  words,  a  mefTcnger  was 
difpatched  to  the  ruler  to  in- 
form him,  that  his  daughter 
had  breathed  her  laft,  and 
that  the  prophet  need  not  now 
trouble  himfelf  to  come  down 
to  the  houfe. 

36  Jffus  hearing  this  mef- 
fa?e  dehvered,  faid  to  the  ru- 
ler — Let  not  this  melancholy 
news  throw  you  into  immo- 
derate grief  and  defpair— -only 
rcpofe  a  firm  trufb  and  con- 
fidence in  my  power. 

0^^  He  then  difmifTed  the 
crowd,  and  fufiered  none  to 
accompany  him,  but  Peter, 
James  and  John. 

38  When 


Ghap.  vl/ 


by   Mark. 


123 


3  8  When  he  entered  into 
the  ruler's  houfe,  he  found  a 
difmal  fcene  of  grief  and  dif- 
trefs — fome  weeping  and  o- 
thers  Tinging,  according  to 
cuflom,  melanchoiy  funeral 
odes. 

39  When  he  came  into  the 
room  he  faid  to  them — Why 
do  you  indulge  all  thefe  ex- 
cefTes  of  forrow  and  mourn- 
ing ?  —  the  young  lady  is  not 
dead —  fhe  is  only  funk  into 
a  profound  fleep. 

40  For  thefe  words,  the 
mourners  could  not  forbear 
exprefTing  by  their  looks,  the 
contemptible  opinion  they  had 
of  him  as  a  prophet — But  Je- 
fus  immediately  ordered  them 
all  to  quit  the  room,  and  tak- 
ing with  him  the  young  lady's 
parents,  and  his  companions, 
he  went  into  the  apartment 
where  the  corpfe  lay. 

41  Ke  approached  it — took 
hold  of  her  hand  —  and  faid, 
Talitha  kumi  —  which  tranf- 
lated  fignifies,  young  lady 
rife! 

42  The  young  lady  who 
was  about  twelve  years  of 
age,  that  moment  got  up, 
and  walked  in  health  and  vi- 
gour about  the  room,  to  the 
mexpreffible  aftonilliment  of 
every  fpedator. 

43  Jefus  then,  to  convince 
them  that  fhe  v/as  reftored  to 
perfedl  health,  ordered  them 
to  bring  her  fome  viduaU — 


but  ftri61:ly  charged  her  pa- 
rents , 
racle. 


rents  not  to  divulge  this  mi- 


CHAP.    VI. 

R  O  M  hence  Jefus  jour- 
neyed, attended  by  hisi 
difciples,  to  Nazareth,  the 
place  of  his  education. 

2  And  on  the  fabbath  day- 
he  went  into  the  place  of  re- 
ligious v/orfliip,  and  publick- 
ly  inftru6led  the  people — -At 
this  conduct  many  of  the  au- 
dience exprefied  their  amaze- 
ment, faying  —  How  comes 
this  man  to  arrogate  to  himfelf 
fuch  an  authority  ?  Whence 
did  he  derive  his  fuperiour 
wifdom  ?  How  was  he  firft 
endowed  with  thofe  miracu- 
lous powers,  which  he  now 
exercifes  ? 

3  Is  not  this  the  ig-noblc 
perion  who  lately  v/as  a  car- 
penter here  ?  We  all  know 
his  mother  Mary,  and  his 
brothers,  James,  Jofes,  Judc 
and  Simon — his  fillers  too  are 
all  fettled  among  us — Theob- 
fcurity,  therefore,  of  his  birth, 
andthemeannefs  of  his  family, 
filled  them  with  difdain  and 
contempt  of  him. 

4  Jefus  upon  their  reje£li-f 
on  of  his  doftrines,  obferved. 
That  a  prophet  is  never  fo 
likely  to  meet  with  difrefpe<5t, 
as  in  the  place  of  his  nativity, 
among  his  relations  and  for- 
mer acquaintance. 

5  The 


neighbour- 


J24 

5  The  violence  of  the  pre- 
judices and  difguft  they  had 
conceived  againft  him,  pre- 
cluded his  general  ufefulnefs 
among  them — he  only  cured 
afewfick  pcrfons,  whole  good 
diipofitions  rendered  them 
the  objefls  of  his  compaffion. 

6  Jefus,  exprefTing  his  afto- 
nifhment  at  the   incredulity 
and  perverfenefs  of  his  coun- 
trymen, left  them,  and  preach 
ed  in  the  feveral 
ing  villages  around. 

§ — 7  After  this,  he  con- 
vened the  twelve  difciples  in 
a  body  before  him,  and  fo- 
lemniy  endowed  them  with 
miraculous  powers  •,  intend- 
ing to  fend  them  out,  two  and 
two  together,  into  the  towns 
of  Judea,  to  publilh  the  fpee- 
dy  commencenaent  of  the  gof- 
pel  difpenfation. 

8  Before  he  difmifled  them, 
he  inftrufted  them  to  make 
no  provifion  for  their  journey 
— to  take  neither  bread,  nor 
money,  but  only  a  ftafF  to 
fupport  their  fteps  : 

9  and  to  furnifh  them- 
felves  folely  with  common 
necefiaries — with  cloaths  and 
fandals — difcarding;  all  Iblici- 
tous  concerns 
futurity. 

10  He  addedi  in  whatever 
family  you  refide,  fliowyour- 
felves  contented  with  the  ac- 
commodations you  meetwith, 
and  remove  not  to  anv  other, 


T^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  vl. 

all  the  time  you  flay  in  the 
place. 

1 1  And  whatever  towns 
refufe  to  give  you  and  your 
doctrines  a  favourable  recep- 
tion, when  you  depart,  raife 
up  the  duft  under  your  feet 
upon  them,  for  a  public 
teftimony  of  their  impeni- 
tence and  guilt — AfTureyour- 
felves  that  the  punifhment 
which  fhali  be  inflicled  in  tlie 
folemn  day  of  future  retribu- 
tion upon  Sodom  and  Gomorra., 
will  be  lefs  dreadful  and  fe- 
vere  than  that  in  which  fuch 
an  incorrigible  town  {hall  then 
be  involved. 

12  Having  received  this 
commifTion  they  departed, 
and  publicly  proclaimed  eve- 
ry where  the  indifpenfable 
neceffity  of  repentance  and 
reformation  of  life. 

1 3  The  mod  ftubborn  and 
inveterate  difeafes  they  expel- 
led, anointed  the  indifpofed 
with  oil,  and  miraculoufly 
healed  them. 

§ — 14  The  fame  of  thofe 
ftupendous  miracles,  which 
Jefus  performed,  being  uni- 
verfally  celebrated,  reached 
the  throne  of  Herod,  and 
threw  this  monarcli  into  the 
mod  violent  perturbation—— 
When  they  recounted  to  him 
the  feveral  aftonifliing  parti- 
culars, he  faid — This  perfon 
can  be  no  other  than  John 
the  Baptift,  whom  divine  pro- 
vidence 


with  reo;ard  to 


Chap.  vi.  by   M 

vidence  hath  reftored  to  life, 
and  endowed  with  thefe  a- 
mazing  powers. 

15  For  tho'  at  that  time 
there  was  a  great  variety  of 
opinions  concerning  the  per- 
fon  of  Jefus — feme  averting 
that  he  was  EHas — fome  a  di- 
vine  meffenger,    who  never 

exifted  before -and  others 

one  of  the  antient  prophets, 
whom  God  had  now  raifed 
from  the  dead : 

16  yet  amidft  this  diverfity 
of  fentiments,  Herod  main- 
tained that  he  could  be  no 
other  than  the  Baptill,  whom 
he  had  beheaded. 

17  For  Herod  had  fomc 
time  before  apprehended  John 
and  confined  him  in  prifon, 
at  the  inftio-ation  of  Herodias 

o 

his  brother  Philip's  lady,  by 
whofe  charms  he  had  been 
captivated,  and  whom  he 
publickly  married. 

18  For  John  hadflronglyre- 
monftrated  againft  this  match, 
and  had  the  undaunted  free- 
dom and  hardinefs  to  tell  the 

king That  for  him  to  e- 

fpoufe  his  brother's  wife  would 
be  a  condudt  to  the  laft  de- 
gree unjuftifiable  and  crimi- 
nal, 

19  For  thcfe  honell  remon- 
ftrances  Flerodias  was  impla- 
cably exafperatcd  againft  him 
and  thirfted  for  his  blood — 
but  was  not  able  to  glut  her 
revenge ; 


ARK.  125 

20  for  Herod  had  a  o-reat 
veneration  for  John's  charac- 
ter, knowing  him  to  be  a  man 
of  moft  exemplary  virtue  and 
fanclity  of  manners — whofe 
counfels  he  regarded,  whole 
difcourfes  he  always  heard 
with  pleafure  ;  and  by  whofe 
advice  he  had  done  many  ufe- 
ful  and  beneficent  aftions. 

2 1  It  happened,  while  John 
was  under  confinement,  that 
Herod  celebrated  his  birth 
day  with  great  pomp  and 
magnificence,  and  invited  to 
a  grand  entertainment  the  no- 
bles of  his  court,  the  officers 
of  his  armies,  and  all  pcrlbns 
of  diftin6lion  in  Galilee, 

22  In  the  midft  of  this  ge^ 
ncral  feftivity  and  joy,  the. 
daughter  of  Herodias  was  in- 
troduced,, and  danced  with 
fuch  bewitching  elegance  and 
grace,  as  gave  univerfal  fatis- 
fadion  and  pleafure   to   the 

company But  Herod  was 

fo  tranfported  that  he  publicly 
faid  to  her,  Alk  of  me  what- 
ever favour  you  pleafe,  and 
I  will  inftantly  grant  it. 

23  He  even  ratified  his  af- 
fertion  by  a  folemn  oath,  a- 
gain  repeating — If  you  foli- 
cit  for  half  of  my  dominions, 
you  Ihall  not  be  repulfed. 

24  The  young  lady  imme- 
diately ran  to  her  mother, 
and  confulted  her  what  boon 
Hie  Ihould  crave — Alk  for  the 

head 


126 


head  of  the  Baptill,  replied 
her  mother,  in  raptures. 

25  Accordingly  fhe  went 
back  direftly  to  Herod  and 
faid — The  favour  I  implore 
from  your  Majefty  is  this— 
give  me  on  a  difh  the  head  of 
the  Baptill. 

26  A  requeft  fo  unexped- 
ed  filled  the  monarch  with 
cutting  remorfe  and  com- 
pun6tion  for  his  ralhnefs  — 
but  rather  than  violate  his 
oath  and  the  refpedl  due  to 
the  company,  he  cliole  to 
gratify  her. 

27  Calling,  therefore,  one 
of  his  life-guards  he  ordered 
him  immediately  to  bring  in- 
to the  room  the  Baptifl"'s  head. 

28  He  went — executed  his 
commands — brought  his  head 
on  a  large  diHi,  fwimming  in 
blood — gave  it  to  the  young 
iadv,  who  carried  it  as  a  moft 
acceptable  prefent  to  her  mo- 
ther. 

29  When  John's  dlfciples 
heard  of  their  maker's  fate, 
they  went  to  the  prifon,  and 
taking  up  his  corpfc,  honoured 
it  with  the  due  rites  of  fepul- 
ture. 

§ — 30  The  difciples  were 
now  returned  from  the  fcveral 
cxcurfions  they  had  made  t;o 
preach  the  gofpel,  and  col- 
Icfting  to  Jefus  informed  him 
of  the  miracles  they  had 
wrought,  and  the  inftrudions 
they  had  delivered. 


Tihe  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap.  vL 

3 1  He  faid  to  them — Let 


us  privately  withdraw  into 
fome  unfrequented  folitude, 
where  you  may  refl  fome  time 
after  the  fatigues  you  have 
fuftained  —  For  in  the  place, 
where  they  now  were,  they 
were  furrounded  and  fo  great- 
ly incommoded  by  an  im- 
menfe  multitude,  that  they 
had  not  an  opportunity  even 
to  take  refrefhment. 

3  2  They  took  boat,  there- 
fore, defigning  fecretly  to  re- 
tire into  a  folitary  place. 

33  But  they  did  not  fteal 
away  unperceived  by  the  mul- 
titude— for  they  remarked  the 
fequeilred  recels,  into  which 
he  intended  to  withdraw,  and 
ran  thither  by  land  from  all 
the  towns  and  villages  around, 
and  coUeded  together  in  that 
place. 

34  When  Jefus  landed  and 
furveyed  fuch  a  vaft  concourfe 
of  people  eagerly  waiting  for 
him,  he  was  affefled  with  the 
tendereft  pity  and  commifera- 
tion  for  their  unhappy  condi- 
tion— being  fuffercd  for  want 
of  ufeful  inlb-udion  to  wan- 
der in  ignorance  and  errour, 
like  flieep  upon  the  moun- 
tains—  he,  therefore,  began 
to  inftru(5t  them  in  many  mo- 
mentous and  important  truths. 

2,^  When  he  had  continued 
his  inftrudlions  *ciU  the  day 
was  far  declined,  the  difciples 
came  to  him  and  reminded 

him. 


Chap.  vl. 

him,   that 
they  were, 
defart, 


ly    M  A  K  K, 


cd 


the  place,  where 
was  an  uninhabit- 
and    the   evening 
confiderably  advanced. 

36  They  defired  him,  there- 
fore, to  difmifs  the  multitude, 
that  they  might  have  time  to 
reach  the  neighbouring  vil- 
lages and  procure  themfelves 
refrefhment. 

37  Jefus  replied — Do  you 
provide  refrelhment  for  them 
here  —  They  faid — -Would 
you  have  us  expend  two  hun- 
dred denarii,  and  accommo- 
date them  with  provifions? 

38  He  a{l<:ed  them  what 
provifions  they  already  had 
amongft  them  —  They  went 
and  examined  and  told  him, 
that  their  whole  prefent  (lock 
confifted  only  of  five  loaves 
and  two  little  fiflies. 

39  He  then  ordered  his 
difcipies  to  defire  the  multi- 
tude to  digeft  themfelves  into 
regular  companies,  and  to  fit 
down  on  the  verdant  turf. 

40  Accordingly  they  placed 
themfelves  in  long  uniform 
rows  and  in  feveral  companies, 
confiding  fome  of  an  hun- 
dred, fome  of  fifty  perfons. 

41  He  then  took  the  five 
loaves  and  the  two  filhes,  look- 
ed up  to  heaven,  and  in  a  fo- 
lemn  manner  blelTed  God- 
after  this,  breaking  the  bread, 
he  gave  it  to  his  difcipies  and 
bid  them  diftribute  it  among 
the  multitude  -^  in  the  fame 


127 

manner  he  difpenfed  the  two 
filhes. 

42  Thcfe  he  miraculoufly 
multiplied,  fo  that  the  whole 
vafl:  multitude  all  partook  of 
a  plentiful  entertainment: 

43  fo  plentiful,  that  after 
they  were  all  fatisfied,  they 
colleded  fragments  of  the 
loaves  and  filhes  that  filled 
twelve  balkets. 

44  The  number  of  thofe, 
who  were  thus  miraculoufly 
entertained,  confifted  of  about 
five  thoufand  perfons. 

§ — 45  Immediately  after 
this,  Jefus  ordered  his  difci- 
pies to  take  boat  and  crofs 
over  the  lake  to  Bethfaida, 
while  he  difmifled  the  multi- 
tude. 

46  When  he  had  difpcrfed 
them,  he  retired  to  the  fum- 
mit  of  a  m.ountain  to  offer 
his  devotions  to  God. 

47  While  he  was  here  em- 
ployed in  thefe  pious  offices, 
the  night  advanced,  and  the 
vefTel  was  conSidling  in  the 
midft  of  the  lake,  with  con- 
trary winds. 

48  Jefus,  from  the  fiiore  per- 
ceived the  boat  toflled  with  the 
waves,  and  the  great  difficulty 
they  had  in  ftruggling  with 

the  tem>peft and  towards 

morning  advanced  towards 
them,  walking  on  the  furfacc 
of  the  billows,  and  leemed 
as  if  he  intended  to  pafs  by 
them, 

49  They 


128 


49  They  feeing  an  human 
form  gliding  with  llifpcnded 
fteps  over  the  furface  of  the 
deep,  believed  it  was  an  ap- 
parition, and  were  chilled 
with  horrour. 

50  For  all  who  were  in  the 
boat  faw  him  and  were  ilruck 
with  extreme  terrour — Jefus 
then  called  to  them,  told 
them  his  name,  and  bid  them 
difpel  their  fears. 

51  He  then  went  to  them 
on  board — but  the  moment 
he  was  in  the  vefTel,  the  lake 
became  fmooth,  and  the  loud 
itorm  was  hufhed — a  fpefta- 
cle,  that  filled  them  with  ex- 
cefTive  aftoniHim.ent  and  ad- 
>Tiiration. 

52  For  the'  they  had  fo 
lately  feen  the  miraculous 
multiplication  of  the  loaves, 
their  grois  underilandings 
had  not  yet  taught  them  to 
form  worthy  and  adequate 
conceptions  of  his  divine  pow- 
er. 

53  When  they  had  crolTed 
the  lake,  they  landed  in  the 
country  of  Genefaret. 

54  But  no  fooner  were  they 
difembarked,  but  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  region  immedi- 
ately knew  him. 

55  And  numbers  flocked 
to  him  from  all  the  adjacent 
country,  carrying  the  fick  in 
litters  to  the  feveral  places 
which  they  heard  he  vifited. 

"   ^6  And  wherever  Ke  tra- 


T/je  Hiftory  of  J esv  s        Chap,  vli* 

yelled,  whether  into  cities, 
towns  or  country  villages, 
they  depofited  the  fick  in  the 
ftrcets  through  which  he  paf- 

fed imploring  the  favour 

only  to  touch  his  cloaths — 
and  all  that  touched  him  in- 
ftantaneoufly  received  a  per- 
fe6l  cure. 


CHAP.     VII. 

I  C  O  M  E  Pharifees  and 
^  Scribes  who  came  from 
Jerufalem  compofed  part  of 
the  crowd  that  now  furround- 
ed  him. 

2  Who  happening  to  fee 
ibme  of  his  dilciples  fit  down 
to  meat,  without  that  cere- 
monious wafhing  of  hands 
which  they  univerfaily  enjoin-  ^ 
ed,  exclaimed  againfl  their,,} 
pollution  and  profanenefs.      nx 

3  For  the  Pharifees  and 
the  whole  body  of  the  Jews, 
from  a  confcientious  adhe- 
rence to  the  traditions  of  their 
anceftors,  never  eat  a  meal 
without  firfl  wafliing  their 
hands  with  the  mofl  fcrupu- 
lous  nicety. 

4  When  they  came  like- 
wife  from  the  market  or  from 
any  concourfe  of  people  they 
never  eat  before  they  have 
wafhed  their  hands — thinking 
by  this  ablution  they  wipe  otf 
any  pollution  they  may  have 
contradled  —  There  are  alfo 
many  other  ceremonies  of  the 

■      like 


Chap,  vlu  by   M 

like  nature  which  they  ftridly 
observe,  as  the  formal  walh- 
iiig  of  their  cups,  their  pots, 
their  kettles,and  their  couches. 
5.The  Pharifees  and  Scribes, 
therefore,  chagrined  at  fo  pro- 
fane a  fpe6lacle,  faid  to  him 
—  Why  do  you  fuffer  your 
difciples  to  eat  in  fuch  pol- 
lution, and  to  call  fuch  con- 
tempt upon  thofe  lacred  ob- 
lervances  that  have  been  tranf- 
mitted  to  us  from  our  pious 
anceftors  ? 

6  He  replied — ^Ye  hypo- 
crites !  Efaiah  hath  given  a 
mofl  accurate  defcription  of 
your  real  charaflers  in  the 
following  paffage —  "  Thefe 
dilfembling  wretches  ap- 
proach me  with  a  fair  exter- 
nal Ihow  of  religious  folemni- 
ty  and  devotion,  while  their 
hearts  are  replete  with  the 
moft  enormous  and  atrocious 
wickednefs — 

7  All  their  zealous  and 
extravagant  fervours  for  my 
fervice  and  worfhip  are  no- 
thing but  mere  diflimulation 

and  vain  pretence while 

they  are  conftantly  inculcat- 
ing the  neceflity  of  a  pun6li- 
lious  compliance  with  all  the 
ceremonious  prefcripticn.s  of 
weakandfuperilitiousperfons, 
and  teaching  men  to  difparage 
the  moral  duties  of  the  lav/." 

8  For  you  pay  a  fcrupu- 
lous  attention  to  the  ridicu- 
lous tenets  and  injundlions  of 

Vol.  I. 


ARK.  129 

your  anceftors,  in  wafhing 
cups,  pots,  kettles,  and  in 
little  ceremonious  obfervan- 
ces  of  the  like  trifling  nature 

but  v/holly  difregard  the 

exprefs  declarations  of  the 
great  God. 

9  You  have  even  fuffered, 
he  told  them,  thefe  abfurd 
and  ufelefs  traditions  to  can- 
cel and  iuperfede  the  mofl 
plain  and  folemn  commands 
of  the  Almighty. 

10  For  example,  Mofes 
enjoins  every  perfon  to  ho- 
nour his  father  and  his  mo- 
ther— and  orders  every  one, 
who  violates  this  fundamen- 
tal and  important  law,  to  be 
condemned  to  death. 

1 1  But  in  dire61:  oppofiti- 
on  to  this  exprefs  command, 

you  fay That  if  any  man 

bequeath  his  fortune  to  the 
fervice  of  the  temple, 

12  from  that  mom.ent  he 
ceafes  to  be  under  any  obli- 
gation at  all  to  relieve  the 
moil  prefiing  wants  of  his 
aged  and  neceflitous  parents. 

1 3  It  is  by  thefe  wicked 
inventions  and  other  fuperfti- 
tious  prefcriptions  of  a  fimilir 
nature,  that  you  abfolutely 
annul  the  primary  and  folemn 
injunftions  of  God. 

14  Jekis  then  publickly  ad- 
dreOed  himfelf  to  the  popu- 
lace, and  faid — 1  defire  your 
diligent  attention  to  wiiac  I 
ani  going  to  remark. 

K  ir   It 


13^ 


T^he  Hiftory  o/* Jesus         Chap.vii- 


15  It  is  not  any  thing  ex- 
ternal that  can  communicate 
any  pollution  to  a  man — pol- 
lution Iblely  arifes  ffojn  in- 
ternal caufes.  .  ,t,-,w 

16  He  who  is  dcfirous  of 
inftru<5lion,  let  him  carefully 
attend  to  this  obfervation. 

17  When  he  was  retired 
from  the  multitude  into  an 
houfe,  the  difciples  came  to 
him,  and  dcfired  he  would 
explain  to  them  thofe  figu- 
rative expreflions  he  had  juft 
ufcd. 

18  He  anfwered — Do  not 
you  comprehend  the  mean- 
ing of  fo  eafy  and  familiar  a 
metaphor?  —  can  any  thing 
be  more  evident  than  that  the 
food  which  a  perfon  receives 
does  not  conftitute  moral  pol- 
lution in  the  fight  of  God  ? 

J  9  The  food  we  eat  is  taken 
into  the  ftomach  for  the  nou- 
rifhment  and  fupport  of  ani- 
mal nature,  and  hath  not  the 
leaft  effeft  on  the  moral  tem- 
per and  difpofition  of  the 
heart. 

20  Impurity  can  only  be 
caufed  by  the  internal  frame 
md  habit  of  the  mind. 

21  For  from  the  heart, 
which  is  the  Iburce  and  feat 
©f  adion,  originally  proceed 
wicked  defigns,  adultery, 
whoredom,  murder, 

22  theft,  avarice,  oppref- 
fion,  fraud,  luO,  cnv7,  ca- 
kunny,  pride,  obftinacy. 


23  All  thefe  hateful  vices 
are  firll  formed  in  the  heart, 
and  being  derived  from  it, 
folely  conftitutc  moral  contart 
mination  and  uncleanncfs. 

§ — 24  Leaving  that  coun- 
try he  removed  to  the  con- 
fines of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  where 
he  privately  retired  into  an 
houfe,  being  defirous  to  con- 
ceal himfeif  fome  time  from 
the  importunity  of  a  tumul- 
tuous crowd — but  in  vain. 

25  For  a  woman  of  that 
country,  who  had  heard  his 
fame  celebrated,  having  a 
daughter  who  was  infane,  ap- 
proached him,  and  fell  at  his 
feet. 

26  This  woman,  who  was 
a  Syrophenician  by  birth, 
fupplicated  him,  in  the  molt 
afi-e6ting  and  importunate 
manner,  to  deliver  her  child 
from  fuch  a  dreadful  malady, 

27  Jefus  laid  to  her — The 
children  ought  firft  of  all  to 
be  fatisfied — for  it  is  not  pro- 
per to  take  that  food,  which 
was  defigned  for  the  children, 
and  throw  it  to  dogs. 

28  I  acknowledge,  vSir,  fhe 
faid,     the    reaibnablencfs   of 

what  you  alledge but  yet 

the  dogs  are  allowed  to  pick 
up  the  crumbs  that  fall  from 
the  children's  plenteous  ta- 
ble. 

29  Jefus,  ftruck  with  pleaf- 
ing  admiration  at  this  anfwcr, 
laid  to  her — Go,  and  be  aflur- 


Chap.viil.  by    M 

ed  that  your  daughter's  dif- 
order  is  expelled. 

30  She  haftened  home,  and 
found  her  daughter  reclining 
on  the  couch,  perfectly  re- 
ftored  to  the  ufe  of  her  un- 
derftanding  and  reafon. 

§ — 3^  Quitting  the  vi- 
cinity of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  he 
returned'  in  his  way  to  the 
Jake  of  Galilee,  through  the 
region  of  Decapolis. 

32  Where  they  brought 
to  him  a  man,  who  was  both 
deaf  and  had  an  impediment 
in  his  fpeech,  entreating  him 
that  he  would  deign  to  lay 
his  hand  upon  him. 

33  Taking  the  man,  there 
fore,  a  little  way  out  of  the 
crowd  into  a  private  place, 
he  put  his  fingers  into  his 
ears,  and  touched  his  tongue 
with  his  fpittle: 

34  Then  lifting  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  and  having  uttered  a 
pious  ejaculation,  he  faid  to 
the  man- — Receive  the  facul- 
ties of  hearing  and  fpeech. 

3^  The  moment  he  pro- 
nounced thefe  words,  his 
hearing  was  perfeftly  reilor- 
ed,  and  he  fpokc  plainly  and 
diftindlly. 

36  He  then  peremptorily 
charged  the  man's  friends 
who  were  fpe6tators  of  this 
miracle,  not  to  report  it — but 
notwithftanding  this  ilri6t  in- 
jundion  they  publifhQ.d  it  e- 
very  where, 


ARK. 


I^I 


37  being  flruck  with  inex- 
preiTible  admiration  at  the 
wonderful  power  he  exerted, 
and  at  the  beneficence  of  all 
his  miracles,  crying  out— ^^ — • 
What  an  heavenly  bencfador 
is  this  !  With  what  divine  be- 
nevolence does  he  corifult  the 
eafe  and  happinels  of  the 
wretched,  by  healing theirin- 
firmities,  and  removing  their 
dlftempers ! 

C  M  A  P.   VIII. 

I  A  BOUT  this  time  an 
•^^  immenfe  multitude 
of  people  being  gathered  a- 
bout  him,  and  entirely  defti- 
tute  of  provifions,'  Jelli^  cal- 
led his  difciples  together  in  a 
body  and  faid  to  them, 

2  I  feel  myfelf  greatly  af- 
fedcd  with  the  unhappy  con- 
dition of  this  vad  aflembly, 
who  have  attended  me  three 
days  in  a  place  where  it  is  im- 
poffible  for  them  to  procure 
any  accommodations.    ■ 

3  And  if  I  Ibould  order 
them  to  difperfe,  numbers 
will  undoubtedly  faint  on  the 
road,  who  are  at  a  confider- 
abledillancefrom  their  homes. 

4  His  difciples  replied — • 
How  is  it  poffible  for  us  to 
provide  victuals  for  fuch  a  pro- 
digious concourfe  of  people, 
in  lb  dreary  and  difmal  a  fo- 
litude  ? 

5  He  afked  them,   how 

K  2  many 


T    ^■'9 


The  Hillory 

many  loaves  they  had — They 
told  him,  leven. 

6  He  then,  ordering  all 
the  crowd  to  recline  on  the 
grais,  took  the  loaves — blei- 
led  God — broke — gave  them 
to  his  dilciples — and  ordered 
them  to  dilpenie  them  among 
the  multitude. 

7  They  had  likewii'e  a  few 
fmall  fiflies — which  with  pi- 
ous acknowledgement  he  alio 
broke,  and  ordered  to  be  dil- 
tributed  in  the  iame  manner. 

8  By  his  miraculous  mul- 
tiplication of  thefe,  the  whole 
multitude  partook  of  a  plen- 
tiful repaft — fo  plentiful,  that 
the  fragments,  which  were 
afterwards  collefled,  filled  fe- 
ven  bafkcts. 

9  The  number  of  thofe, 
who  were  thus  entertained, 
amounted  to  about  four  thou- 
fand — After  they  were  all  fa- 
tisfied,  he  difmifTed  them. 

§ — lo  Whf.n  the  multi- 
tude was  difperfed,  he  and 
his  difciples  croITed  over  the 
lake  of  Galilee,  and  landed 
on  the  coaft  of  Dalmaniuha. 

1 1  After  his  arrival  here, 
fome  Pharifees  who  were  come 
down  from  Jerufalem,  in  a 
debate  with  him  challenged 
him  to  give  them  fome  fignal 
proof  of  his  miraculous  power, 
and  to  convince  them  of  the 
authority  and  truth  of  his 
prctenfions  by  fome  grand 
luminous  prodigy  in  the  fky. 


of  Jesus        Chap.  viir. 

12  Confcious  of  their  de- 
termined refolution  to  reject 
the  greatell  evidence  he  could 
exhibit  before  them,  he  fetch- 
ed a  profound  figh,  and  faid 
— Why  doth  the  prefent  ge- 
neration, after  the  many  mi- 
racles that  have  been  wrought, 
demand  from  me  a  prodigy  in 
the  air — Tiieir  unreafonable 
and  perverfe  humours  (hall 
not  be  indulged  with  any 
fuch  pha^nomenon. 

1 3  With  this  anfwer  he  \tix. 
them — and  croffed  over  the 
lake  again. 

14  In  t'leir  pafiage,  the 
difciples  recollefted  that  they 
had  forgot  to  furnifli  them- 
felves  with  provifions — hav- 
ing none  with  them  in  the 
boat,  except  one  loaf. 

15  It  happened,  during 
their  perplexity,  that  Jcfus 
admonifhed  them  cautioufly 
to  avoid  the  corrupt  leaven  of 
the  Pharifees  and- of  Herod. 

1 6  They  no  fooner  heard 
him  mention  leaven — but  they 
faid  one  to  another — This  un- 
queftionably  is  defigned  to 
reprove  us  for  our  negligence 
in  forgetting  to  carry  bread 
with  us. 

1 7  Jefus,  confcious  of  their 

fentiments,  faid  to  them 

Why  do  you  diftrefs  your- 
felves  witii  thcfe  anxious 
thoughts,  becaufe  you  have 
omitted  to  brinijr  bread  alono; 
with  you — are  you  itill  lo  in- 

confi- 


Chap.  vlii.  hy    M 

confiderate  ?  —  is  your  heart 
ftill  unfufceptible  of  imprel- 
•iions  ? 

18  Endowed  with  the 
powers  of  judgment  and  un- 
derftanding,  are  you  fo  averfe 
to  employ  them  in  attentive- 
ly confidering  the  miracles, 
with  which  you  are  every  day 
converfant  ? 

19  Did  not  you  lately  col- 
lect twelve  bafkets  of  frag- 
ments from  an  entertainment, 
that  I  lately  furniflied  for 
five  thoufand,  with  only  five 
ioaves  ? 

20  Did  not  you  fill,  at  an- 
other time,  feven  baflcets  with 
fragments,  when  I  di'l:ribut- 
icd  only  feven  loaves  among 
four  thoufand  ? 

21  Having,  therefore,  fuch 
repeated  demonftrations  of  the 
power  I  polTcfs,  why  are  you 
•fo  abfolutely  inattentive  to  it  ? 

§ — 22  Upon    his    landing 

at  Bethfaida,  they  brought  to 

him  a  blind  man,  defiring  him 

only  to  touch  him. 

c'    23  He    then    taking   the 

-rJalind  man  by  the  hand,  and 

'-  condudting   him    out  of  the 

village   into  a  private  place, 

touched  his  eyes  v/ith  fpittle, 

and  aflced  him,    if  he  could 

difcern  any  thing. 

..-    24  I  can  jufi:  difcern  men, 

lie  faid,  but  very  imperfeftly 

—  they   appear   to   me   like 

walking  trees. 

25  He  then  put  his  hands 


ARK.  133 

upon  his  eyes,  and  afterwards 
alked  him  to  view  the  obje<5ts 
that  furrounded  him  —  and 
immediately  his  fight  was  per- 
fectly reftored  •,  fo  that  he  faw 
every  thing  in  the  mod  dif- 
tin6t  manner. 

26  He  then  ordered  the 
man  to  fteal  privately  home, 
without  going  through  the 
village,  or  divulging  the  cure 
he  had  received,  to  any  pcr- 
fon. 

§ — 27  After  this,  Jefus 
travelled  with  his  difciples  to 
the  towns  of  CasfareaPhilippi 
—  and  on  the  road  he  afl<:ed 
them,  what  the  vulgar  re- 
ports vv-ere  concerning  him. 

28  They  replied  —  fome 
perfons  ailert  that  you  are 
John  the  Baptift  —  others  as 
itrenuouOy  contend  that  you 
are  hiias,  or  Ibme  one  of  the 
ant;ent  prophets  reftored  to 
life. 

29  He  then  ailced  them — 
Whom  they  imagined  him  to 
be  ?  —  Peter  anfwered — We 
believe  you  to  be  the  true 
MefTiah. 

30  Immediately  upon  his 
making  this  declaration,  he 
peremptorily  charged  them 
not  to  publilh  it  to  the  world. 

3  I  From  that  time  he  be- 
gan to  acquaint  his  difciples 
with  the  fcries  of  miferies  he 
muil  go  through  —  that  he 
muft  be  treated  with  every 
indignity,  and  be  publickly 
K  3  conv 


^3+ 

condemned  and  murdered  by 
the  magiftrates,  the  higii 
priefls,  and  the  Scribes  — 
bii't  that  on  the  third  day  he 
v;oLild  rile  from  the  grave. 

32  I'hat  this  would  cer- 
tainly be  his  fate  he  now  told 
all   his   dilciples  in  the  mofV 

plain  and  exprefs  terms- • 

Alarmed  at  fuch  a  gloomy 
and  unexpedled  declaration, 
Peter  took  him  afide  and 
began  to  expoftulate  with 
him. 

33  But  Jefus  turned  from 
him,  and  before  the  other 
difciplcs  feverely  reprehended 
Peter,  faying  — You  are  not 
confcious,  that  by  diverting 
me  from  my  fufferings,  you 
would  be  an  enemy    to  me 

and   to  mankind your 

mind  is  inflated  with  am  bi- 
lious views,  andcomprehend- 
pth  not  the  defigns  of  God. 

34  He  then  called  to  the 
multitude  to  join  the  circle 
of  his  difciples,  and  faid — r— 
He  who  is  defirous  to  become 
niy  genuine  difciple  and  fol- 
lower, muft  for  ever  abandon 
all  views  of  worldly  ambition 
and  fenfual  pleafure,  and 
fhearfuUy  fubmit  to  that 
courfe  of  afflictions  and  iuf- 
ferings  which  I  have  fup- 
portcd. 

35  For  whofoever  will  favc 


The  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap.  ix. 


his  life,  at  the  expence  of  his 
religion  and  virtue,  lliall  be 
eternally  deprived  of  it — -but 
whofoever  fliall  chearfuUy 
llibmit  to  the  lofs  of  life,  ra- 
ther than  facrifice  the  princi- 
ples of  my  religion  and  the 
rights  of  conlcience,  (hall  be 
reinilated  in  the  pofifeiTion  oJc 
it,  with  infinite  advantage.  .^^ 

36  Forof  v/hat  avail  would 
it  be  to  a  man,  if  he  could  ac- 
quire the  poffeffion  of  the 
whole  univerfe,  if  at  laft  he 
forfeits  eternal  life  ! 

37  What  is  it  poflible  for 
a  man  to  fubflitute,  as  an  e- 
quivalent  for  the  lofs  of  eter- 
nal lii^- ! 

38  Whofoever,  therefore, 
in  this  debauched  and  profli- 
gate age,  appears  afliamed  of 
my  caufe,  and  rejeds  it  with 
contempt — may  aflTure  him- 
felf,  that  he  will  alfo  be  re- 
pulfed  by  the  fon  of  man, 
when  he  combes  attended  v/ith 
myriads  of  angels,  and  invefl:- 
ed  with  the  authority  and 
fplendors  of  fupreme  majelfy. 

Chap.Ix.  lAndbeaflTur- 
ed,  that  there  are  fome  per- 
fons  now  before  me,  whofhall 
live  to  fee  the  kingdom  of  God, 
erefted  in  the  mod  powerful 
and  magniflcent  manner'. 

§ — 2  About  a  week  after 


t"!-.^-  ]^y  ^'5  refurrcflion  and  afcrnnon,  an'^    the   communication  of 
fpirirutil  pifts  on  the  day  of  pentecoll. 

.t  this. 


chap.  ijf. 


by    M  A  R  Kl  ->^\^ 


"^l^ 


fcene  fuddenly  vaniflicd,  and 
they  faw  Jefus  ftanding  alone. 

9  As  they  were  defcending 
the  hill  Jefus  lolemnly  charg- 
ed them,  _not  upon  any  ac- 
count to  publiih  to  the  world 
what  they  had  feen,  *till  af- 
ter his  reilirredion  from  the 
grave. 

10  Thefe  laft  words  great- 
ly puzzled  them,  and  they 
debated  among  themfelves, 
what  he  cotild  mean  by  the 
refurre6lion  from  the  grave. 

1 1  The  difciples  then  afkr 
ed  him,  why  the  Jewifh  clergy 
aflerted  that  Elias  mufl  make 
his  public  appearance,  as  the 
immediate  predecefTor  of  the 
MelTiah. 

1 2  He  replied — Elias  was 
originally  deHgned  to  be  the 
harbinger  of  the  Mefljah,  to 
prepare  mens  minds  for  the 
reception  of  him  —  and  the 
MelTiah  is,  according  to  the 
prophecies,  to  fufferthe  great- 
eft  indignities,  to  be  abufed 
and  vilified. 

1 3  He  told  them  —  the 
predidions  of  the  fcripture 
concerning  Elias  were  already 
verified- — Elias  had  made  his 
appearaiKe,  and  they  had 
treated  him  with  the  moft 
wanton  infolence  and  con- 
tempt. 

§ — 14  When  he  was  come 

t  The  word  rixCwi'  is  very  expreflive,  denoting  any  $hipg  that  is.re- 
markably  brilliant  and  gliitening.  tu  ouij.a.7t  9i^CsiiJi'f^\i,Tf.M(o7nT&-* 
Pluc.  .4inn!.  p.  496.  ... 

K  4  JP 


this^  Jefus  privately  conduc- 
ed Peter,  James  and  John,  to 
the  fummit  of  a  very  high 
mountain — where  they  fud- 
denly faw  his  perfon  meta- 
morphofed  in  a  furprifing 
manner. 

3  For  iriftantly  his  cloaths 
gliftened^  with  a  brilliancy 
and  luftre  infinitely  fuperi- 
our  to  what  the  higheft  ex- 
ertions of  human  art  and  fkill 
can  produce. 

4  After  this  appeared  Mo- 
fes  and  Elias,  and  entered 
into  a  conference  with  him. 

5  Peter,  tranfported  with 
this  amazing  fcene,  faid  to 
Jefus  —  How  dele(5lable  a 
refidence  might  v/e  fix  here  ! 
— -  Permit  us  to  ere6l  three 
tents,  one  for  yourfelf,  an- 
other for  Mofes,  and  a  third 
for  Elias. 

6  He  knew  not  what  to  fay 
i — fuch  a  tumult  of  aftonifh- 
ment  and  fear  ftrugo-led  in 
their  breafts. 

7  At  laft  they  faw  a  bright 
lucid  cloud  defcend  and  fix  di- 
rectly over  their  heads — from 
which  they  heard  the  follow- 
ing fen  ten  ce  folemnly  articu- 
lated —  This  is  my  fon,  the 
objeft  of  my  fondeft  affec- 
tions !  Obey  his  admoni- 
tions 1 

8  After    this    the    whole 


Hhe  Hiftory  oj  Jesus  Chap,  ix* 


to  the  reft  of  his  difciples,  he 
found  them  in  the  circle  ot 
a  large  multitude,  and  the 
Scribes  engaged  in  a  confe- 
rence with  them. 

15  As  icon  as  the  crowd 
faw  him  advance  towards 
them,  they  were  ad'onilhed 
at  the  fuperiour  lullre  that 
fcill  adhered  to  his  perfon, 
and  ran  with  eager  impati- 
ence to  falute  and  embrace 
him. 

16  He  then  an<;ed  the 
Scribes  v/hat  fubje6t  they 
were  fo  warmly  agitating  ? 

1 7  The  reaibn  of  their  de- 
bate, replied  one  of  the  mul- 
titude, is  this — I  brought  to 
you  my  fon  who  is  dumb, 
and  otherwife  dreadfully  af- 
fliaed. 

1 8  For  he  is  fubje6l  to  ter- 
rible fits  which  feizc  and  con- 
vulfe  him — -in  which  he  lies 
for  a  confiderable  time  foam- 
ing at  the  mouth,  grinding 
his  teeth,  and  covered  with 
palenefs,  in  a  frightful  man- 
ner— This  horrible  difeafe  I 
entreated  your  difciples  to  re- 
move, but  they  could  not. 

19  Upon  hearing  this  ac- 
count, Jefus  with  great  emov 
tion  laid,  O  incredulous  and 
perverfc  age  !  how  long  fhall 
I  he  a  witnefs  of  your  deter- 
mined infidelity !  Mow  long 
fhall  I  bear  your  incorrigible 
obftinacy  !-r-He  then  ordered 


the  parent  to  bring  his  fon  to 
him  : 

2  o  He  was  no  fooner  brought 
before  Jefus,  but  he  was  im- 
mediately feized  with  flrong 
convuifions,  and  dropped 
down,  wallowing,  and  foam- 
ing at  the  mouth. 

21  Jelus  aflccd  the  father, 
how  long  his  fon  had  been 
affli6led  in  this  fliocking  man- 
ner— he  laid,  from  a  child. 

22  And  by  thefe  fits,  he 
added,  he  is  often  thrown  in- 
to the  fire,  and  often  into  the 
water,  whereby  his  life  hath 
been  greatly  endangered  — • 
but  fmce  you  are  able  to  eX' 
pel  this  dilbrder,  have  com- 
panion upon  this  unhappy 
creature. 

23  Jefus  replied — To  fuch 
a  firm  confidence  as  thou  re- 
pofeil  in  me  the  very  greateft 
dixHculties  will  yield. 

24  The  parent  then  cried 
out  in  a  flood  of  tears— Par^ 
don  my  weaknefs  and  imper^ 
fe(5tion  —  I  believe  you  arc 
able  to  efi^ecl  this  cure.       ^rflt 

25  Jefus  feeing  the  multi- 
tude crowd  together  in  a  tu> 
rnultuous  manner,  command- 
ed, in  an  authoritative  man- 
ner, the  diifemper  to  depart 
and  quit  him  for  ever. 

26  He  had  no  fooner  pro-? 
nounced  the  words — tho'  he 
was  then  fo  convulfed  and  lay 
fo  fenfelcfs,  that  leveral  who 

werg 


Chap.  h.  by    Mark. 

faid   he  was 


were  prefent, 

dead — 

:.     27  but  every  fymp torn  va- 

niflied — and  Jefus  taking  him 

by  the  hand  raifed  him  from 

the  ground  in  perfed:  health. 

28  Jefus,  after  this,  going 
into  an  houfe,  the  difciples 
afked  him  the  reafon,  why 
they  could  not  miraculoufly 
cure  this  diflemper. 

29  He  anfwered-— Such  an 
eminent  degree  of  faith  as  is 
requifite  to  expel  fuch  an  un- 
commonly horrible  difordcr 
as  the  prefent,  cannot  be  at- 
tained but  by  a  long  courfe 
of  devout  meditation  and  re- 
ligious abftinence. 

§ — 30  Leaving  that  place, 
they  travelled  through  Gali- 
lee in  a  clandeftine  manner — 
he  being  unwilling  that  any 
fhould  know  him. 

31  Here  he  told  them  cx- 
prefsly,  that  the  fon  of  man 
would  foon  be  delivered  into 
the  power  of  thole  who  thirft- 
cd  for  his  blood,  that  he 
ihould  be  publickly  executed 
—  but  on  the  third  day  he 
would  rife  from  the  grave. 

32  But  their  prejudices 
prevented  them  from  fully 
comprehending  what  he  faid-, 
at  the  fame  time  that  they 
were  afraid  to  aik  him  to  be 
iriore  particular. 

33  Arriving  at  Capernaum, 
and  entering  into  an  houfe, 
he  aflicd  them,  what  fubjed 


it  was  that  interefted  them  in 
fuch  a  warm  debate  on  the 
road  ? 

34  This  queftion  ftruck 
them  dumb — for  on  the  road 
they  had  engaged  in  a  fan- 
guine  difpute,  which  of  them 
fhould  have  the  higheft  poll 
in  the  kingdom  their  matter 
was  going  to  eftablilli. 

o,c^  He  then  fat  down,  and 
calling  the  body  of  the  twelve 
difciples  around  him,  he  faid 
to  them  —  The  perfon,  who 
fhall  fecure  the  higheft  ho- 
nours in  my  kingdom,  (hall 
be  he,  whole  character  is  moft 
diftinguiflied  for  humility  and 
condefcenfion. 

36  He  then  placed  a  little 
child  in  the  midft  of  them, 
and  fondly  clafping  it  in  his 
arms,  faid  to  them 

Q^j  Whofoever  confiders 
this  child  as  an  emblem  of 
that  fimplicity  and  innocence 
which  the  gofpel  requires, 
clearly  comprehends  its  true 
genius  and  defign,  and  un- 
derftands  the  great  ends  which 
my  heavenly  father  fent  me 
into  the  world  to  promote. 

§~^3^  John  faid  to  him— - 
Divine  inftru(Stor!  we  lately 
met  with  a  man,  who  made 
ufe  of  your  name  and  autho- 
rity in  eftefting  mir-aculous 
cures,  and  as  he  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  our  fociety  we  fcverely 
reproved  him,  and  forbad 
hirn  for  the  future  to  take 

fuch 


J38 

fuch      unwarrantable     free- 
doms. 

39  By  no  means,  replied 
Jeius,  hinder  his  public  ufe- 
fulnefs — for  he,  who  deigns 
to  make  ufe  of  my  authority 
to  work  a  miracle,  will  be 
the  lafl  perfon  to  traduce  and 
miireprefent  me. 

40  For  amidft  the  general 
infidelity  of  the  prelent  age, 
we  have  reafon  to  efteem  e- 
very  one  as  a  friend  to  us, 
who  doth  not  oppofe  us. 

41  For  wholbever  fhall  do 
you  the  leaft  kind  office,  fuch 
as  even  giving  you  a  cup  of 
cold  water,  merely  becaufe 
you  are  my  dilciples,  fhall 
afluredly  be  recompenfed  with 
an  adequate  reward. 

42  Andwhofoever  fhall  fe- 
duce,  and  cauTe  to  apoftatize, 
one  of  the  moft  inconfidera- 
ble  chriftians,  had  much  bet- 
ter be  condemned  to  have 
a  m.iliftone  fufpcnded  about 
ills  neck,  and  be  plunged  in- 
to the  profoundeft  abyfs. 

43  Should,  thcrctore,  any 
inveterate  habit  llrongiy  foH- 
cit  thee  to  abandon  thy  chrii- 
tian  principles — determine  to 
eradicate  it,  whatever  diffi- 
culties it  may  occafion  thee 
—it  is  infinitely  more  eligible 
to  fupport  the  greateft  mi- 
fcries  of  this  life,  than  to  die 


The  Hillory  of  Jesus  Chap,  ix. 

unreformed,  and  to  be  thrown 
into  inextinguifhable  fire  : 

44  Where  the  impenitent 
finner  will  be  deftroyed  "  by 
the  molt  dire  and  excruciat- 
ing torments. 

45  Whatever  beloved  vice 
would  lead  you  to  facrifice 
your  religion — reiolve  to  ex- 
terminate it  from  the  foul, 
with  whatever  reluftance  and 
averfion  this  may  be  done — 
the  pains  of  this  life  are  no- 
thing to  the  fufi^erings  to 
which  the  unreformed  fliall 
be  fubjedied,  in  inextinguifh' 
able  fire : 

46  W^here  the  impenitent-' 
finner  will  be  deftroyed  by  the 
moft   dire   and   excruciating 
torments. 

47  W^hatever  luft  fhall 
powerfully  inftigate  thee  to 
renounce  the  facred  charac- 
ter of  a  chriftian  — hefitate 
not  to  controul  and  fubdue 
it,  whatever  bitter  forrows  it 
may  caufe  thee — what  are  the 
forrows  of  this  momentary 
liie,  to  the  anguifh  that  thofe 
ffiall  fuftain,  who  will  be  fi- 
nally precipitated  into  inex« 
tinguifhable  fire ! 

48  Where  the  impenitent 
finner  will  be  deftroyed  by 
the  moft  dire  and  excruciat- 
ing; torments. 



49  The  principles  of  the 


"  A  ivormtlat  mver  Jiei  certainly  means  a  worm  that  \\\\\  kill  ther 

golpcl 


Chap.  X. 


by   M  A  R  K. 


139 


gofpel  were  defigned  to  pre- 
pare men  for  the  divine  ac- 
ceptance, juft  as  the  vi6lim 
is  prepared  by  the  fait  for  the 
fervice  of  the  altar. 

50  Suffer  not,  therefore, 
thele  good  and  excellent  prin- 
ciples to  lofe  their  original 
force  and  vigour,  but  imbibe 
the  falutary  influence  of  them 
intoyour  minds — -and  be  care- 
ful to  cultivate  the  greateft 
harmony  and  concord  among 
yourfelves. 

CHAP.   X. 

I  "pvEPARTING  from 
•^-^  that  country,  he  tra- 
velled to  the  remoteft  part  of 
Judea  beyond  the  river  Jor- 
dan, where  great  multitudes 
reforted  to  him,  whom  he  in- 
ftrudied  as  ufual. 

2  Among  others  came  fome 
Pharifees,  who,  with  an  art- 
ful defign  to  enfnare  him, 
alked  him.  If  divorces  were 
lawful. 

3  He  aflced  them,  what 
the  law  of  Mofcs  enjoined 
upon  this  article. 

4  Our  great  legiflator,  they 
replied,  allowed  a  man  to  re- 
pudiate his  wife,  after  a  writ- 
ing of  divorce  was  formally 
drawn  up  and  figned. 

5  Jelus  faid  to  them 

Mofcs  enadted  this  law  from 
a  conrcioufnefs  of  the  malig- 
nity of  your  tempers,  and  to 


prevent  a  train  of  dreadful 
evils,  which  your  implacable 
ieverity  and  morofenels  would 
otherwife  have  occafioned. 

6  But  when  mankind  were 
originally  created,  God  made 
only  one  oi  each  fex.       ow  ^v 

7  And  the  fcripture  faith 
— In  order  to  form  the  con- 
jugal union  Ihall  a  man  leave 
his  parents,  and  be  infepar- 
ably  conjoined  to  his  wife  : 

8  And  the  bonds  of  this 
union  Ihall  be  fo  ftri6t  and  in- 
timate, as  that  they  both  fliall 
be  confidered  as  only  one  ible 
individual  aduated  by  one 
fole  mind. 

9  Let  not  man  prefume, 
therefore,  to  diflblve  a  con- 
nection, which  the  great  God 
himfelf  hath  formed  and  ra- 
tified. 

10  When  he  was  alone  in 
an  houfe,  the  difciplesdefired 
him  to  be  more  explicit  with 
rcg-ard  to  the  fubjeft  he  had 
juil  been  difcuITing. 

1 1  He  faid  to  them 

Whoever  repudiates  his  wife 
and  marries  another  woman, 
is  guilty  of  the  crime  of  adul- 
terv. 

12  And  whatever  woman 
divorces  herfelf  from  her  huf- 
band  and  marries  herfelf  to 
another  man,  is  in  the  fight  of 
God  an  adukrefs. 

§ — 13    AriouT    this   time 

fome   pcrfons    brought  their 

children  to  him,  in  order  that 

\  he 


14^ 


he  might  lay  his  hands  upon 

them  and  blefs  them but 

the  dilciples  reproved  them 
ior  this  condud,  and  denied 
them  accefs  to  him. 

14  Jefus,  when  he  perceiv- 
ed it,  was  greatly  offended 
with  their  behaviour,  and  laid 
to  them — Permit  little  chil- 
dren to  come  to  me,  and  de- 
prive them  not  of  the  liberty 
of  approaching  me — for  thole 
only,  who  are  poffefTed  of  their 
harmlefs  fimplicity  and  inof- 
fenfivc  innocence,  are  the  ge- 
nuine fuhjecls  of  my  king- 
dom, 

1 5  I  declare  to  you  in  the 
moft  folemn  manner,  that  he 
who  doth  not  receive  the  goi- 
peldifpenfation,  with  the  tem- 
per and  difpofition  of  little 
children,  will  never  be  e- 
fteemed  a  true  and  worthy 
member  of  it. 

16  He  then  folded  them 
in  his  arms — laid  his  hands 
upon  them — and  bleffed  them. 

§ — 17  As  he  was  travel- 
ling in  the  public  road  to- 
wards Jcrulalem,  a  perlbn  of 
diftinction  "^  advanced  up  to 
him,  and  proftrating  himfelt 
at  his  feet  faid — Good  inftruc- 
tor !  condefcend  to  acquaint 
me,  what  courfe  of  pradticf 
I  mufl  purfue  in  order  to  at- 
tain future  felicity. 

18  JtTus  faid  to  him 


T^e  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap,  x. 

What  induces  you  to  call  me 
^ood — that  venerable  title  can 
eifentially  belong  only  to  the 
fuprcme  God. 

19  You  know  the  pre- 
cepts, which  God  hath  pre- 
Icribed  as  the  rules  of  duty 
— for  example,  thou  (lialt  not 
be  guilty  ot  adultery,  of  mur- 
der, of  theft,  of  falfe  accufa- 
tion,  or  of  fraud — thou  (halt 
honour  thy  father  and  thy 
mother. 

20  He  replied 1  have, 


Sir,  from  my  childhood,  con- 
fcientioufly  made  thefe  im- 
portant commands  the  con- 
llant  rules  of  my  moral  con> 
dud.  .0 

2 1  Jelus  receiving  this  an- 
fwer,  looked  upon  him  with 
complacency  and  love,    and 

laid In  one  thing  you  are 

ftill  defecflive — if  you  are  de- 
firous  to  attain  the  highefl 
pitch  of  the  moft  confummate 
excellence  and  virtue,  go 
home,  fell  all  thy  pofleflions, 
difpenfe  the  money  arifing 
from  the  fale  among  the  poor, 
and  become  my  faithful  and 
infeparable  companion,  chear- 
fully  fubmitting  to  the  ibr- 
rows  and  bufferings  of  this 
life —  by  this  illuftrious  con- 
duct you  will  fecure  a  moll 
tranfcendent  and  diftinguifh- 
ed  degree  of  celeftial  blclTed- 
nefs. 


*  See  the  various  leilions. 


2  2    No 


by  Mar  k. 


Chap.  X. 

2  2  No  fooner  had  Jefus  pro- 
nounced thefe  words,  but  his 
countenance  was  overfpread 
with  gloom  —  and  he  turned 
from  him  in  a  flood  of  grief 
and  melancholy  :  for  he  had 
an  immenfe  fortune. 

23  Jefus  looking  round 
upon  his  difciples,  faid  to 
them — How  difficult  a  thing 
is  it  for  thofe  who  are  poflef- 
fed  of  opulent  fortunes  to 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
the  Meffiah  ! 

24  Thefe  exprefiions  great- 
ly alarmed  and  diftrefled  the 
difciples  "  —  Jefus  refuming 
his  difcourfe,  faid — My  dear 
companions  !  how  extremely 
difficult  is  it  for  thofe,  who 
are  inflated  with  their  fupe- 
riour  wealth,  and  make  it 
their  great  confidence  and 
idol,  to  enter  into  the  gofpel 
kingdom! 

25  It  is  as  impofilble  for  a  Ifecutions  to  which  he  fliall  be 
rich  man  to  enter    into   the    expofcd  in  this  life,  enjoy  that 


141 

27  Jefus  looking  upon  them 
with  an  eye  of  pity  and  com- 
paffion  for  their  anxiety,  faid 
— Humanly  fpeaking  this  is 
morally  impoffible  —  but  by 
God*s  all-powerful  affiftance, 
the  very  greateft  impedi- 
ments that  riches  lay  in 
mens  road  to  Chrifl;ianity, 
may  be  furmounted. 

28  Upon  this,  Peter  faid — 
We  thy  difciples  have  relin- 
quiflied  our  all,  and  become 
thy  faithful  and  infeparable 
companions. 

29  Jefus  faid  to  him 

There  is  no  one,  who  out  of 
a  fincere  attachment  to  me 
and  to  the  gofpel  hath  either 
left  his  home,  his  brothers, 
his  fifl;ers,  his  father,  his  mo- 
ther, his  wife,  his  children, 
his  efl:ate : 

30  but  who  fliall,  even  in 
the  midft  of  the  feverefl:  oer- 


kingdom  of  God,  as  it  is  for  a 
cable  to  be  forced  through 
the  eye  of  a  needle. 

26  So  ftrange  an  afl^rtion 
again  threw  them  into  the  moil 
painful  and  extreme  alloniih- 
ment — and  in  the  laft  amaze- 
ment, they  faid  one  to  an- 
other——How  can  any  rich 
man  then  ever  obtain  eternal 
falvation ! 


ferene  fatisfadion  and  pure 
tranfporting  felicity  in  his 
own  mind,  as  fhall. infinitely 
compenfate  for  all  the  lolies 
he  may  fuftain  —  and  who 
fliall,  in  a  future  ftate,  be  raif- 
ed  to  eminent  and  diftinguilli- 
ed  happincfs. 

3 1  For  many  to  whom  the 
gofpel  \'=>firji  ofiered^  will  be 
the  laji  to  embrace  it — and 


'  They  thought  that  if  the  r'uh  did  not  efpoufe  his  caufe,    he   would 
have  no /i/>r§-</(?,w  at  all.  '         » 


4 


thofe 


iJ\.±  T'be  Hiftory  e/'  J  e  s  u  s 

thofe  to  whom  it  will  be  laft 


propoled,  lliall  be  the/;y^in 
admitting  its  evidence. 

§ — 32  As  Jefiis  was  now 
advancing  at  their  head,  in  the 
road  that  direftly  led  to  Je- 
rufalem,  the  profpeft  of  the 
calamities  they  might  pro- 
bably very  foon  be  expofed 
to,  threw  them  into  a  dreadful 
dejedion  and  melancholy  — 
Jefus  then  again  repeated  to 
his  twelve  dilciples  the  feries 
of  mifcries  in  which  he  was 
about  to  be  involved  : 

33  Wc  are  now  going,  faid 
he,  to  Jerufalem,  where  the 
fon  of  man  will  in  a  treache- 
rous manner  be  delivered  to 
the  high  priefts  and  Scribes, 
who,  after  they  have  fentenccd 
him  to  fuffer  capital  punilli- 
ment,  will  confign  him  over 
to  the  Roman  foldiers, 

34  who  will  treat  him  with 
every  wanton  indignity — Ipit 
upon  him — mangle  his  body 
■with  Icourges— — and  pubMck- 
ly  execute  him  —  But  on  the 
third  day  he  fhall  rife  from  his 
grave. 

§ — '},!;■)  The  two  fons  of 
Zebedce,  James  and  John, 
then  approached  him  in  a  fup- 
plicant  manner,  begging  he 
would  deign  to  bellow  a  fa- 
vour they  were  going  to  fo- 
licit. 

0,6  tie  afls'cd  them,  what 
it  was  they  were  fo  dcfirous 
to  obtain  of  him. 


Chap.  X. 

37  They  faid  tb  him — — 
Pleafe  to  advance  us  two  to 
the  firft  honours  in  that  grand 
and  magnificent  kingdomj 
which  you  are  fpeedily  to  e- 
red. 

38  Jefus  faid  to  them — 
You  know  not  what  you  are 
requeuing  —  Can  you  drink 
that  bitter  cup  which  I  am 
foon  to  drink,  and  fuftain 
thofe  dreadful  fufferings  which 
I  fhall  fhortly  undergo  .^ 

'},()  We  are  able  to  do  this, 
they  replied  —  Jefus  faid  — • 
You  will  in  this  life,  indeed, 
like  your  mafter,  be  immerf- 
ed  in  forrow  and  per  fee  u- 
tion: 

40  but  the  mofl  elevated' 
pofts  in  my  kingdom  are  not 
in  m.y  difpofal —  they  will  be 
confered  by  my  Father 
on  thofe,  whom  fuperiour 
virtue  entitles  to  fuch  illuf- 
trious  honours.  '* 

41  When    the    other  ten' 
heard    the    petition,     which 
thefe  two   had    prefered    to 
Jefus,  they    conceived    very 
violent     refentment    againft 
them  for  their  bafc  clande**'^ 
fline  endeavours  to  fupplant*^ 
them.  '-^ 

42  Jefus  then,  calling  the^ 
body  of  his  dilciples  together,"* 
f-;id  to  them  • —  The  princes  ^ 
?:k1  fovereigns  amonp;  the: 
IJrcthejis^  you  know,  rule  ' 
tiieir  fubjcd-s  in  an  abfolute 

and 


Chap.  xl. 


by   M 


A   R   K. 


H: 


and  arbitrary  manner  —  and, 
among  thefe  nations,  thofe 
arc  moft  revered,  whole  am- 
bition hath  fecured  them  the 
greateft  extent  of  delpotic 
power. 

43  But  it  fliall  not  be  thus 
among  you — for  he  that  is 
ambitious  of  the  highcft  ho- 
nours in  my  kingdom,  Ihall 
obtain  them  only  by  fuperi- 
our  and  more  diftinguifhed 
degrees  of  meeknefs  and  con- 
defcenfion. 

44  And  he,  who  is  defir- 
ous  to  be  the  greatell  in  pre- 
ferment, fhall  be  the  greateft 
in  humihty. 

45  For  the  fon  of  man  did 
not  aflume  human  nature  to 
eftabhfh  a  fplendid  court  to 
minifter  to  him  all  the  foft 
plealures  of  earthly  luxury 
and  gratification — but  to  de- 
mean himfelf  to  the  humbleft 
offices,  in  order  to  benefit 
the  human  race — and  to  llir- 
rcnder  up  his  life  to  lerve 
their  beft  interefts. 

§ — 46  As  he  was  going  out 
of  Jericho,  accompanied  by  his 
difciples  and  a  numerous 
multitude,  it  happened  that 
the  blind  fon  of  Timasus  was 
fitting  and  bep-p-inp-  on  the 
fide  of  the  road,  along  which 
he  pafTed. 

47  As  foon  a3  he  heard 
that  Jefus  of  Na^^reth  was 
coming,  he  began  to  cry  out 
with  great  vehemence — O  Je- 

5- 


fus,,  fon  of  David !  pity  my 
condition ! 

48  Several,  difturbed  with 
his  clamours,  reproved  him, 
and  commanded  him  to  be 
filent — but  thefe  rebukes  on- 
ly ferved  to  increafe  his  voci- 
feration— he  ftill  repeating — 
fon  of  David  pity  me ! 

49  Jefus  then  ftopped  and 
ordered  him  to  be  called  — 
they  went  and  told  the  blind 
man,  faying  to  him — rife,  be 
confident  of  fuccefsjfor  he  com- 
mands you  to  come  to  him.  ; 

50  He  inftantly  ftarted  up 
—  threw  off  his  upper  gar- 
ment— and  hafted  to  Jefus. 

51  He  afked  him  what  fa- 
vour he  folicited  with  fuch  ve- 
hemence  The  blind  maa 

anfvvered O  Sir,  to  be  re- 

ftored  to  my  fight ! 

52  Jefus  faid  to  him— Thy 
confidence  in  my  power  hath 
effecled  thy  cure — He  imme- 
diately faw  every  thing  dif- 
tindly,  and  joined  the  crowd 
that  followed  Jefus. 

CHAP.  xr. 

1  \X7H EN  they  were  now 
'  '  advanced  within  a 
very  little  diftance  from  the  ca- 
pital, over  againft  Bethphage 
and  Bethany  fituated  at  the 
foot  of  mount  Olives,  he  cal- 
led two  of  his  difciples, 

2  and  faid  to  them Qo 

into  the  village  that  is  oppo- 

fite 


244 


l^be  Killory  cf  Jesus  Chap.  xL 


fitc  us,  and  juft  as  you  enter 
it  you  will  fee  a  young  als  ti- 
ed  loofe  it  and  bring  it  to 

me. 

3  And  if  any  fhould  afk 
you  by  whofe  order  you  take 
it  away,  tell  him  that  your 
mafter  hath  occafion  for  it, 
and  he  will  difmifs  you  with- 
out any  further  moleftation. 

4  They  went,  therefore, 
and  found  a  young  afs  at  the 
entrance  of  the  village  tied  to 
a  door — which  they  immedi- 
ately loofcd. 

5  Some  people,  who  were 
(landing  there,  feeing  two 
ftrangcrs  a6t  in  this  manner, 
faid  to  them — what  bufinefs 
have  you  to  take  away  the 
colt? 

6  Upon  their  making  the 
reply  which  Jefus  had  order- 
ed them  to  make,  they  were 
fuffered  to  depart  with  it  un- 
dillurbed, 

7  Having  brought  the 
colt  to  Jefus,  and  laid  their 
upper  garments  upon  it,  he 
mounted. 

8  Upon  which,  great  num- 
bers fpread  the  public  road 
■with  their  upper  garments  s 
while  others  were  employed 
in   cutting  verdant  branches 


from  the  adjoining  trees,  and 
fcatterintr  them  along  the 
way. 

9  And  the  vaft  crowds  that 
advanced  before  him,  and 
thofe  that  compolcd  his  train, 
pierced  the  air  with  their  joy- 
ful acclamations,  fhoutino", 
Hofannah! — Blelfed  is  he  who 
comes  invefted  with  the  pow- 
er of  the  great  God  ! 

10  For  ever  glorious  be 
the  kino;dom  which  is  ";oino[ 

O  DO 

to  be  erefted  under  the  au- 
fpices  of  our  great  progenitor 
David  !  May  all  the  heaven- 
ly powers  for  ever  crown  it 
with  profperity  and  fuccefs  ! 

1 1  Entering  in  this  trium- 
phant manner  into  the  city, 
he  went  diredly  to  the  tem- 
ple— where  after  having  ta- 
ken an  accurate  furvey  of  e- 
very  thing,  he  went  back  in 
the  evening  with  his  difciples 
to  Bethany. 

12  On  his  return  from  Be- 
thany to  the  city  the  next 
morning,  he  felt  keen  fe nida- 
tions of  hunger. 

13  And  defcrying  at  fomc 
diftance  from  the  road  a  figr 

o 

tree,  covered  with  thick  ver- 
dant leaves,  he  walked  up  to 
it,  in  hopes  of  finding  fruit. 


y  This  aff*e6tionate  refpeft  and  reverence  was  paid  to  Cato.  "  When 
Gate's  expedition  was  ended,  he  was  efcorted  not  only  with  the  cufto- 
mary  prailcs  and  acclamations,  but  with  teais  and  the  tcndeielt  endear- 
ments,  vTroTi^ivTuv    let   nxeLiia.  Totf  rroffiv  «  CuS't^oi,    kai    katai^iKovv- 

l/.aiot.     Pkitarch  Cato  Jun.  1402.  Steph. 

as 


Chap.  xi.  by 

as  the  time  for  gathering 
figs  was  not  yet  come — but 
he  found  nothing  but  a  fair 
and  fiourifliing  foliage. 

14  Upon  this  dil'appoint- 
ment  Jefus  faid  to  the  fig 
tree,  in  the  audience  of  his 
difcipies  —  Mayell  thou  ne- 
ver bear  more ! 

15  Arriving  at  the  city, 
Jefus  entered  into  the  temple, 
and  ejefted  out  of  it  all  thole 
whom  he  found  buying  and 
felling  within   its  facred  pre- 

ciiifts he  overturned  the 

tables  of  thofe  bankers  who 
gave  to  flrangers  Jcwifii  coin 
in  exchange  for  foreign,  and 
threw  down  the  flails  of  thofe 
who  Cold  doves  for  the  facri- 
fices. 

16  Nor  would  he  fuffer 
any  perfon  to  carry  a  veiTel 
through  the  courts  of  the  tem- 
ple. 

17  For  doth  not,  faid  he, 
the  fcripture  exprefsly  fay, 
that  my  houfe  fhall  be  folely 
appropriated  as  a  place  of  re- 
ligious worfhip  for  the  de- 
vout of  all  nations  ? — but  ye 
have  converted  it  into  a  com- 
mon receptacle  for  thieves  and 
cheats. 

1 8  The  high  priefls  and 
Scribes,  hearing  of  the  autho- 
ritative manner  in  which  he 
a6i:ed,  held  a  confultation,  in 
v/hich  it  was  unanimoully  re- 
folved  that  he  fhould  be  put 
to  death — but  they  were  a- 

VOL.    I. 


Mark.  14^ 

fraid  to  execute  their  fangui- 
nary  purpoles,  as  he  was  fo 
univerfally  carefled  and  ador- 
ed by  the  populace  forthefub- 
limity  of  his  dodrines. 

§ — 19  In  the  evening  he 
retired  out  of  the  city. 

20  And  the  next  morning 
as  the  difcipies  were  paffing 
by  the  fig  tree,  they  perceiv- 
ed that  it  was  entirely  faded 
and  withered. 

21  Upon  wliich  Peter  in- 
ftantly  recollefting  the  late 
adlion  of  Jefus,  faid  to  him— - 
See,  Sir,  the  fig  tree  which 
thou  curfedd,  how  totally  ic 
is  dried  and  blafted  ! 

22  Jefus  faid  to  them ■ 

Repofe  an /entire  and  unre- 
ferved  confidence  in  the  pow- 
er of  God. 

23  For  I  folemnly  af- 
fure  you,  that  if  any  of  you 
fliould  command  that  moun- 
tain to  defcend  from  its  bafe 
and  roll  into  the  ocean,  if  at 
the  lame  tinie  you  did  not 
hefitate  concerning  the  extent 
of  the  divine  power,  but  were 
firmly  perfuaded  that  it  would 
be  accompiiflied  —  his  man- 
date fhould  be  obeyed. 

24  And  whateverfavouryou 
folicit  at  the  throne  of  mercy, 
requifite  to  promote  the  fuc- 
cels  of  the  gofpel,  firmly  be- 
lieve that  you  (hall  obtain  it, 
and  Iliall  you  not  be  repuifed. 

25  But  rem.ember,  when 
you  addrefs  the  fupremc  Be- 


146 


T^he  Hiflory  of  Jesus       Chap.  xii. 


ing,  to  erafc  from  your  breaft 
all  refentmcRts  againft  your 
fellow-crcaturc!],  and  gene- 
rouOy  to  forgive  them;  in  or- 
der that  your  heavenly  father 
may  extend  his  forgivenefs  to 
you. 

26  For  if  you  do  not  en- 
ter upon  your  iolemn  devo- 
tions with  a  difpofition  to  for- 
give thofe  who  have  offended 
you,  God  will  not  forgive  the 
crimes  and  offences,  which 
you  have  committed  againft 
him. 

§ — 27  WiiEN  he  came  the 
fecond  time  to  Jerufalem,  as 
he  was  walking  in  the  temple 
the  high  pricfts,  the  Scribes, 
and  the  magiftrates  cam.e  up 
to  him  in  a  body, 

28  and  faid— Inform  us 

■what  authority  thou  haft  to 
afl  in  this  public  manner,  and 
from  whom  thou  deriveft 
thine  authority  ? 

29  Jeftjs  faid  to  them 

tet  me  firft  propoie  to  you  a 
queftion,  v/hich  if  you  re- 
iolve,  I  will  not  fail  to  ac- 
quaint you  by  what  authori- 
ty I  aft. 

30  Was  the  baptifm  of 
John  of  divine  appointment 
— or  merely  an  human  con- 
trivance ? 

31  Having  agitated  this 
for  fome  tm'ic,  they  laid  one 

to  another if  v/c  tell  hirn 

that  John  afted  by  a  divine 
commifTion,  he  will  direc^lly 


reply — why  did  not  you  then 
acknowledge  his  prophetic 
character  ? 

32  But  ihould  we  fay,  that 
John's  m.iniftry  was  a  mere 
human  contrivance — we  ex- 
pofe  ourfeives  to  the  outrage 
of  the  populace,  who  univer- 
fally  efteem  John  as  a  moft 
illuftrious  prophet. 

0^'}^  They  told  Jefus,  there- 
fore, that  they  really  did  not 
know  whether  John  had  a  di- 
vine commiffion  or  no — Ke 
replied,  I  will  alio  decline 
giving  you  any  fatisfaftion 
concerning  that  authority  by 
which  I  ad. 

CHAP.  XII. 

I  T_TE  then  recited  to  them 
*~  A  the  following  fable — 
A  GENTLEMAN  planted  a 
vineyard,  and  lurrounded  ic 
with  a  ftronnr  fence — he  alfo 
furnifhed  it  with  an  appara- 
tus for  preparing  the  juice, 
and  ereded  a  caftleforits  de- 
fence  and  as  foon  as  he 

had  employed  a  number  of 
huft^andxmen  todrefs  it,  he  fet 
out  on  his  travels  into  a  fo- 
reign country. 

2  A.t  the  time  of  vintage 
hefent  over  one  ot  his  Ilrvants 
to  receive  from  the  huft)and- 
mcn  the  produce  of  his  vine- 
yard. 

3  But  he  had  no  fooner  de- 
livered  h;^    mufter's   orders, 

than 


Chap,  xii.^ 

than  they  fell  upon  him,  beat 
him  in  an  unmerciful  manner, 
and  fent  him  away  empty. 

4  He  fent  another  fervant, 
whom  they  received  with  a 
volley  of  ftones  difcharged  at 
his  head,  which  cut  and 
mangled  him  in  a  dangerous 
manner — and  in  this  dreadful 
condition  they  turned  him  out 
of  the  vineyard. 

5  A  third  whom  he  after- 
wards fent,  they  murdered — 
and  a  great  many  others  whom 
he  continued  to  fend,  they 
either  cruelly  beat  or  alTaiTi- 
nated. 

6  This  gentleman  having 
a  fon,  the  obje6t  of  all  his 
fondeft  affections,  determin- 
ed, lail  of  all  to  fend  him, 
faying — Surely  they  will  not 
dare  to  offer  any  indignities 
to  my  fon ! 

7  But  thefe  mifcreants  no 
fooner  perceived  him,  but 
they  cried  out  in  ecftacy  — 
This  is  the  heir!  come  let  us 
inftantly  murder  him,  and 
feize  upon  his  eftate  ! 

8  That  moment  they  all 
ruffled  upon  him — murdered 
him — and  threw  his  mangled 
body  over  the  fence. 

9  Now  what  punifiiment 
will  the  proprietor  of  the 
vineyard  in  Aid  upon  thefe 
wretches  ?  —  they  replied  — 
Moff  certainly  be  will  put  them 
to  death  by  the  moll  excru- 
ciating torments,  and  employ 


<^    M  A   R   K. 

others 
yard. 


H7 

CO  cultivate  his  vine- 


lo  Do  not  you  remember, 
laid  Jelus,  the  following  paf- 
fage  of  ficred  fcripturc — i'he 
ilone,  which  the  builders  re- 
je6led,  is  become  the  grand 
corner  ftone,  to  unite  and 
confolidate  the  two  fides  of 
the  edifice. 

I  r  An  event  brought  a- 
bout  by  divine  appointment, 
and  worthy  to  excite  oul" 
higheft  aftoniffiment. 

§ — 12  They  loon  found 
that  he  had  intended  this  fable 
to  be  applicable  to  themfelves 

which  incenfed  them  to 

that  degree  that  they  imme- 
diately left  him,  and  delibe- 
rated how  they  might  appre- 
hend him — -but  they  dreaded 
the  fury  of  the  populace. 

13  In  confequence  of  their 
determined  refolution,  they 
employed  fome  of  the  Pha- 
rifees  and  Herod ians  to  go 
and  eniiiare  him  in  a  confe- 
rence. 

14  Thefe  perfons  came  to 
him  and  addrefled  him  in  the 
following  manner  —  Illuffri- 
ous  teacher!  we  are  perfuad- 
ed  that  thou  haft  a  confcien- 
tious  regard  for  truth,  and 
that  it  is  not  in  the  power  of 
man  to  compel  thee  to  be- 
tray it-,  for  thou  delivered 
divine  inftruflion  with  a  fm- 
cere  probity  and  undaunted 
freedom   of  mind,     without 

'  L  2  any 


1 48  T/v  Hiftory 

any  fervUe  regard  to  the  tcr- 
rours  or  applauies  of  the 
world — declare  to  us,  there- 
fore, your  fentiments,  whe- 
ther it  is  lawful  for  the  Jewi 
to  pay  tribute  to  the  Roman 
emperour  ? 

15  He,  confcious  of  their 
deep  difTimulation,  faid  to 
them— —Why  do  you  thus 
artfully  endeavour  to  draw 
me  into  a  fnare  ? — Let  me 
fee  a  denarius. 

1 6  They  brought  him  one 
— He  faid — Whole  head  and 
legend  is  this  ?  —  They  an- 
Iwered,  Csfar's. 

17  He  then  faid  to  them 
— Pay  to  the  Roman  empe- 
rour what  he  juftly  claims, 
and  to  God  the  duties  he  re- 
quires— They  went  away  a- 
flonifhed  at  an  anfwer  fowife 
and  cautious. 

§ — 18  After  this  the 
Sadducees,  who  deny  a  fu- 
ture ftate,  came  and  propofed 
to  him  the  following  queflion. 

19  Our  great  legiflator  ap- 
pointed, that  when  an  elder 
brother  dies  without  children, 
his  younger  brother  fliall  mar- 
ry his  v^idow,  in  order  to 
perpetuate  the  name  of  the 
deceafed. 

2C  Now  there  was  amongft 
us  a  remarkable  and  well 
known  cafe — There  were  fe- 
ven  brothers — the  elded  of 
whom  married  and  died  child- 
Ids. 


of  Jesus         Chap,  xii, 

21  The  fecond  and  third 
alfo  married,  but  left  no  chil- 
dren. 

22  In  fhort,  flie  married 
in  fuccelTion  all  the  feven 
brothers,  and  furvived  them. 

23  We  fhould  be  glad, 
therefore,  you  would  inform 
us,  which  of  thefe  feven  bro- 
thers fhall  have  her  to  wife 
in  a  future  ftate. 

24  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
You  are  in  this  point  guilty 
of  a  moft  eo-regious  and  fatal 
miftake,  arifing  from  your 
ignorance  of  the  fcriptures, 
and  of  the  extent  of  the  di- 
vine power. 

25  For  in  a  future  ftate 
the  human  race  will  no  lon- 
ger be  propagated — for  men 
will  be  there  endowed  with 
immortality  like  the  angels.  ~ 

26  And  with  regard  to  a 
future  exiftence — have  you 
never  attended  to  the  mean- 
ing of  thofe  words,  which 
Mofes  heard  God  folemnly 
pronounce  out  of  the  bufh — 
"  I  am  the  God  of  Abraham, 
the  God  of  Ifaac,  the  God  of 
Jacob."     . 

27  A  fufficient  demonftra- 
tion  of  a  future  ftate  —  fincc 
God  is  not  the  governour  of 
dead  infenfible  matter,  but 
of  confcious  intelligence  -4- 
You  are,  therefore,  guilty  of 
a  moft  dreadful  and  perni- 
cious errour. 

§ — 28  One   of  the  Jewiih 
cleroy 


chap.  xii.  fy   M  i 

clergy,  who  was  prefent  at  this 
conference,  being  greatly 
pleafed.with  the  juftnefs  and 
folidity  of  this  reply,  advanc- 
ed up  to  him,  and  afkcd  him. 
Which,  was  the  mod  impor- 
tant of  all  the  divine  com- 
mands ? 

29  Jefus  anfwcred — The 
primary  and  moft  capital  pre- 
cepts are  two  —  the  frji  is  — 
that  we  acknowledge  one  fu- 
preme  God, 

30  and  ferve  him  v/ith  the 
moft  genuine  fmcerity,  and 
the  pureft  and  fublimeft  af- 
fedion  : 

31  and  the  fecond — that  we 
fhould  love  our  neighbour  as 
ourfelves — There  is  no  other 
precept  fuperior  to  thefe  iwo 
in  excellence  and  importance. 

32  The  clergyman  faid  to 
him  —  You  have  given,  Sir, 
the  only  true  and  proper  an- 
fwer  ,to  my  qucftion — for  in- 
deed there  is  only  one  fu- 
preme  God  ; 

33  and  to  love  this  excel- 
lent and  amiable  Being  with 
a  pure,  generous,  and  con- 
flant  affection,  and  to  exprefs 
in  all  our  aftions  the  g;re?,teft 
benevolence  to  all  our  feilow- 
men,  is  of  more  intrinfic  im- 
portance, and  a  fervice  more 
acceptable  to  the  Deity  than 
ail  the  pompous  offerings  and 
expenfive.  facrifices  in  the 
world. 

34-  Jefus,    charmiCd    with 


k  K.  149 

this  fenffble  and  intelligeni: 
anfwcr,  viewed  him  with 
looks  of  affeftion  and  love, 
and  faid  —  The  difpofitions 
you  difcover  v/ould  in  no 
long  time  make  you  a  convcrc 
to  the  gofpel — From  this  time 
all  delifted  from  propofing  any 
more  queilions  to  him. 

§ — ^5  As  Jefus  was  teach- 
ing the  people  in  the  tem- 
ple, he  faid — What  founda- 
tion have  the  Jewifh  clergy 
for  afferting  that  the  Meffiah 
muft  be  the  fon  of  David, 

36  Since  David  himfelf, 
when  under  the  divine' affla- 
tus, exprefsly  faith  —  "  The 
fupreme  Jehovah  faid  to  my 
Lord,  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand  'till  I  have  totally  fub- 
jeded  all  my  foes." 

^y  You  fee  David  himfelf 
calls  the  Meffiah  his  Lord- 
in  what  fenfe,  therefore,  is  lie 
his  fon  —  An  immenfe  multi- 
tude being;  here  collected  gave 
a  plcaied  attention  to  his  dif- 
courfes. 

§-^38,  Amokg  other  in- 
ftruftions  he  gave  them  the 
following  admonition  —  Be 
ever  cautious  of  being  duped 
and  deceived  by  the  hypo- 
crify  of  the  Scribes — who  af- 
fed  to  walk  in  their  long 
gowns  widi  fuch  demure  fo- 
lenmiry,  and  who  are  intoxi- 
cated by  the  fervile  reverence 
that  is  paid  them  by  the  fu- 
perilitious  crowiis. 


L 


Who 


150  ne  Hiftory 

^9  Who  ft  rive  to  gratify 
their  pride  by  getting  the 
bed  feats  in  places  of  pub- 
lic vvorQiip,  and  the  mofl:  ho- 
nourable places  at  all  public 
entertainments, 

40  Who  with  unfeeling 
cruelty  deprive  the  widow 
and  orphan  of  their  jufl  pro- 
perty —  and  yet  cover  this 
mercilefs  opprcflion  and 
wickednefs  v/ith  a  mafls:  of 
fuperiour  fandity  and  extra- 
ordinary devotion Up- 
on thefe  hypocrites  God  will 
infiid  the  moft  dreadful  pu- 
rifhments. 

§ — 41  Jesus  after  this 
fitting  over -again  ft  the  Trea- 
fury,  obfcrved  how  the  people 
came  and  put  in  their  chari- 
table contributions  to  pious 
iifcs  —  many  opulent  pcrfons 
gave  very  confiderable  lums. 

42  Among  others,  he  faw 
a  poor  widow  come  and  put 
in  twofmall  pieces  of  money, 
both  amounting  in  value  only 
to  .  farthing. 

43  Obferving  this,  he  cal- 
led his  difciples  and  faid  — 
I  afRire  you,  that  poor  wo 
man  hath  done  a  greater  a(5l 
of  charity  than  all  who  have 
jiitherto  contributed. 

44  For  all  the  others  have 
given  but  a  very  inconfider- 
able  proportion  out  of  tlieir 
large  fortunes  —  but  this  in- 
digent cliaritabie  creature  fiath 


^ 'Jesus         Chap.  xiii. 

chearfully  thrown  in  all  that 
ihe  had  in  the  v;orld. 


CHAP.    XIII. 

I  A  S  he  was  going  out  of 
*^  the  temple,  one  of  his 
difciples  faid  to  him  —  See, 
Sir,  what  a  magnificent  pile 
this  is  !  and  what  immenfe 
ftones  there  are  in  it ! 

2  Jefus  faid  to  him  —  Do 
you  admire  this  vail  and  fu- 
perb  ftru6lure  ?  — It  lliall  be 
lo  totally  demolidicd,  that 
there  (hall  not  be  left  one 
ftone  fcantiing  upon  another! 

3  Alarmed  at  thefe  words, 
Peter,  James,  John,  and  An-* 
drew  came  to  him  privately,- 
as  he  was  fitting  on  the  mount 
of  Olives,  which  was  directly 
oppofitc  the  temple, 

4  and  aflvcd  him,  when  all 
theredreadfulcalamities  would 
happen,  and  from  v/hat  cir- 
cumftances  they  might  prog- 
nofticate  their  approach. 

5  Jefus  faid  to  them — Take 
heed  of  being  feduced  by  any 
man  into  fatal  enours. 

6  For  many  impoftors  will 
publickly  appear  and  alTume 
my  character,  folemnly  de- 
claring themfelves  the  Mel- 
fiah— and  will  deceive  great 
numbers. 

7  And  when  you  hear  of 
dreadful  battles  and 
wars,    let   not    ihcfe 


bloody 
reports 
ftrike 


Chap.  xiii.  by   M 

ftrike  you  with  terrour  —  for 
mankind  will  be  harrafTed 
with  thefe  horrid  evils  before 
the  deftru6tion  of  this  city 
and  temple  enfue. 

8  For  one  country  will 
commence  hoftilities  againft 
another  — -  one  kino-dom  in- 
vade  and  depopulate  another 
—  and  many  regions  will  be 
fhaken  by  earthquakes,  or  in- 
fefted  by  famine  and  the  other 
devaftations  of  war  —  Thefe 
evils  are  but  the  forerunners 
of  the  great  deftru'ilion. 

9  But  amidil  thefe  public 
troubles  be  careful  to  main- 
tain your  integrity — for  they 
will  drag  you  before  their 
courts  of  judicature — You 
will  be  cruelly  fcourged  in 
their  public  alTemblies — and 
for  your  uniliakcn  attachment 
to  my  religion,  you  will  be 
brought  before  heathen  go- 
yernours  and  princes — where 
yoM  will  have  an  opportunity 
of  vindicating  your  principles 
and  profefiion. 

,;io  But  before  the  difTolu- 
tion  of  the  JewiHi  govern- 
ment happen,  the  gofpel  v/ill 
be  propagated  into  all  na- 
tions. 

1 1  When  they  hail  you,  howr 
ever,  before  their  tribunals, 
be  not  diftreffed  with  anxious 


ARK.  151 

thoucrhts  concernino;  what  a- 
pology  you  fnall  offer — -but 
fpeak  with  undaunted  free- 
dom in  the  crifisofyour  dan- 
ger v/hatever  fliall  then  be 
luggefted  to  you — torthe  de- 
fence you  will  then  be  able 
to  make  will  not  be  the  effort 
of  human  v/ifdom,  but  the 
diftates  of  the  holy  fpirit. 

12  Such  an  implacable  en- 
mity will  be  conceived  againft 
your  profefTion,  that  even  a 
father  will  deliver  up  to  death 
his  own  fon  —  one  brother 
murder  another — and  chil- 
dren imbrue  their  hands  in 
their  parents'  blood. 

13  And  on  account  of  your 
principles  you  will  be  held  in 
almoft  univerfal  deteftation 
and  abhorrence — But  he  who 
furvives  thefe  perfecutions, 
and  is  living  when  thefe  ca- 
kimities  fhall  involve  the  land 
of  Judea,  fnall  be  refcued 
from  the  general  deftrudion. 

Ti  4  With  regard  to  the  ilgns 
that  fliall  precede  this  great 
event,  remember  that  vvhen 
you  fee  thofe  idolatrous  ar- 
mies, mentioned  in  Daniel's 
prophecy|fwhich  every  reader 
ought  attentively  to  confider) 
which  have  fpread  fuch  ha- 
vock  and  defolation  in  the 
univerfe  %  fixing  their  ftan- 

dards 


'What  dreadful  ha-jock  ««if  ^Z/yi/a/Zcw  the  Romans  made  among  man- 
kind if.  fufficiently  apparent  from  this  paffage  in  Polybhts.  "  When  th? 
Jlomans  took  cities  by  llorm,  they  not  onlv  put  ail  tiae  men  to  the  Iword, 

L  4     '  tut 


152 

dards  round  the  holy  city  — 
then  let  all  the  Chridians  vho 
are  in  Judca,  halten  to  the 
mountains.'^ 

15  He,  who  happens  then 
to  be  on  the  houib  top,  let 
hinn  not  flay  to  go  into  his 
hoiile  or  take  any  thing  out 
of  it,  but  defcend,  with  the 
iitmoll:  precipitation,  down 
tlie  ftairs  on  the  outfide^ 

16  He  who  is  then  work- 
ing in  the  fields,  let  him  not 
go  back  to  fetch  his  cloaths  ^^ 

1 7  Beyond  exprcfilon  mi-' 
ferable  will  be  the  condition 
of  thofe,  vvhofe  flight  will 
then  be  impeded  or  prevent- 
ed by  advanced  pregnancy,  or 
the  incumbrance  of  fuckling 
infants. 

18  Fervently  beg  of  God 
that  this  your  harty  retreat 
rnay  npt  happen  during  the 
rigour  and  inclemency  of  the 
winter.J 

C-19  For  the  calamities  and 
miferies  of  that  time  will  be 
more  dreadful  and  horrible 
than  any  that  have  ever  oc- 
curred fince  the  creation  of 
the  world,  or  will  ever  hap- 
pen again  \o  its  final  diflblu- 
tion-Y 

20  And  fhould  the  provi- 
dence of  God  permit  this  ha- 


T^e  Hi/lor:}^  cf  Jesus        Chap.  xiit. 


vock  to  be  of  any  confider- 
able  duration,  the  whole 
Jewifli  nation  would  be  to- 
tally extin6t  —  but^  for  the 
fake  of  the  pious  and  fincere, 
God  hath  fliortened  the  pe- 
riod of  this  terrible  devafta- 
tion.') 

2 1  In  thefe  diftrefTing  times 

if  any  one  fhall  tell  you *•' 

The  MefTiah  is  now  in  fuch  a 
place— give  him  not  the  leaft 
credit. 

22  For  great  numbers  wiir 
then  aflume  the  character  of 
the  Mefliah,  and  of  infpired 
prophets,  and  will  exhibit 
inch  kirprifing  feats  and  pro- 
digies, as  to  impofe  even  up- 
on chriftians  theml'elves. 

23  Be  cautious,  therefore, 
of  being  feduced  by  them — •> 
Confider  all  the  admonitions, 
that  I  have  now  fo  minutely 
given  you. 

24  After  the  city  and  land 
of  Judea  are  overwhelmed  in 
this  deflirucfion,  the  fi.m  (hall 
be  fhroudedin  midnight  dark- 
nefs  —  the  moon  fhall  be  one 
great  blank  in  the  firmament. 

2  5Thefl:ars  fhall  drop  from 
their  fpheres,  and  all  the  hea- 
venly powers  be  fhook  and 
difVurbed  by  the  moil  violent 
concuflions.  ii 


Init  even  cut  the  dogs  in  piece?,  and  hewed  ofFthe  limbs  of  every  other 
living  creature  they  found  there."  Polyb.  p.  8?o.  Edit.  Gronov.  How 
much  is  the  world  indebted  to  Chriflianity  for  humanizing  the  difpofitious 


yf  mankind  ! 

*>  Nudas  ara,  fc.-e  nudus 


-Georg.  i.  zgS. 


261  Then 


Chap.  xiii.  by    M  A 

26  Then  fhall  the  Mefliah 
be  feen  riding  on  the  cloud?, 
arrayed  in  matchlefs  glory, 
and  triumphing  in  the  moft 
rnagnificent  pomp : 

27  who  will  difpatch  his 
minifters  to  make  converts 
and  form  Ibcieties  of  chrif- 
tians  in  every  region  and 
dime  under  heaven. 

28  The  fig  tree  reads  you 
a  leflbn  of  uTeful  inilrudtion 
with  regard  to  this  o;reat  e- 

vent When  it  puts  forth 

tender  fhoots  and  opening 
leaves,  you  with  rifing  plea- 
fure  conclude  the  approach 
of  fummer. 

29  In  like  manner  do  ye, 
when  you  oblerve  the  feveral 
phsenomena,  which  I  have  fo 
diftinftly  enumerated,  infer 
that  the  great  dellru6tion  is 
at  hand. 

30  Let  me  afTure  you  that 
the  prefent  race  of  men  fhall 
not  be  deceafed,  before  all 
thefe  my  predictions  are  fully 
accomplifhed. 

3 1  Sooner  fhall  heaven  and 
earth  be  annihilated,  than  my 
words  not  be  verified. 

32  But  on  what  day,  or  in 
whar  particular  feafon  of  the 
year,  the  city  and  nation  fhall 
be  immerfed  in  this  deluo;e  of 


RK,  15-3 

deflruction,  is  unknown  to  the 
angels,  to  the  fon  *,  to  every 
being  m  the  univerfe,  except 
the   one  fupreme  Father   of 

33  "Bb  ever  cautious,  vigi- 
lant, and  fervent  in  your  de- 
votions to  God for  you 

know  not  v/hen  this  dire  ir- 
ruption fhall  happen. 

34  For  as  a  gentleman  a- 
bout  to  vifit  a  foreign  coun- 
~ry,  prefcribes  at  his  departure 
to  his  faithful  fervants  their 
refpeftive  employments — en- 
joins upon  them  prudence and 
diligence- — and  orders  his  do- 
meftics  to  live  in  continual 
expectation  of  his  return  -, 

'2^^  This  fame  unremitting 
A'atchfulnef's  I  inculcate  up- 
on you  —  for  you  know  not 
in  what  particular  hour  of 
the  night  the  mafler  of  the 
houle  may  furprife  you. 

0,6  Be  cautious,  therefore, 
left  at  the  fudden  advent  of 
your  Lord  you  be  found  funk 
in  lupine  negligence  and  re- 
pofe. 

2)^  The  advice,  therefore, 
which  I  would  have  you  and 
all  Chriftians  principally  to 
regard  on  this  occafion,  is  >*^- 
be  vigilant. 


AaAc/. Zsyj  ■3"po7»p©-  yiyove^)  y.yjt  Tth^ova.nS'n,  IliadN.  354,  355. 


CHAP. 


i54 


The  HiAory 


CHAP.    XIV. 

'T  was  new  only  two  days 
to  the  pafToNer,  which 
were  employed  by  the  high 
priells  and  Scribes  in  anxious 
deliberations  by  what  artifice 
they  might  get  him  into  their 
power,  and  put  him  to  death. 

2  They  reiolvcd,  however, 
not  to  execute  their  defigns 
in  the  approaching  feftival, 
for  fear  the  populace  fliould 
rife  and  refcue  him. 

3  Some  time  before  this, 
as  he  was  at  Bethany,  fitting 
at  table  in  the  houfe  of  one 
Simon,  whom  he  had  cured  of 
leprofy  —  a  woman  came  up 
to  him,  having  in  her  hand 
an  alabafter  box  ^  full  of  per- 
fume of  an  immcnfe  value, 
which  (lie  flicok  %  and  pour- 
ed upon  his  head. 

4  The  condud  of  this  wo- 
man excited  the  intiignacion 
of  feveral  who  were  prelent, 

who  laid  one  to  another 

What  end  can  fuch  extrava- 
gance anfwer ! 

5  This  box  of  perfume,  in- 
Head  of  being  thus  prodigally 
waited,  might  have  been  fold 
for  above  three  hundred  de- 
narii, and  have  relieved  many 
poor  diftreffed  families 


of  Jesus         Chap.  xiv. 

They  fevcrely  reproved  her, 
tlierefore,  for  her  indifcre- 
tion. 

6  But  Jcfus  faid  to  them — 
Dilmifs  her  unmolelled — why 
are  your  relentments  {o  vio- 
lent againft  her  ?  —  flie  hath 
performed  a  pious  and  affec- 
tionate office  towards  me. 

7  For  you  will  always  have 
among  you  objedls  of  com- 
paflion,  whom  you  may  cha- 
ritably relieve  whenever  you 
are  difpofed — but  my  ftay  a- 
mong  you  will  be  but  of  very 
fhort  continuance. 

8  She  hath  benevolently 
fhowed  me  all  the  refpeft  it 
was  in  her  power  to  demon- 
ftrate — for  this  expence  that 
fhe  hath  now  lavidied  upon 
me  I  regard  as  funeral  ho- 
nours  paid  to  me. 

9  Be  alfured  that  in  all  the 
countries  of  the  univerfe  where 
the  gofpel  Ihall  be  propagat- 
ed, this  benencent  adion  rhac 
Hie  hath  done  to  me,  ihall  be 
recounted  to  her  cverlafiinc^ 
honour. 

10  After  this  Judas  Ifca- 
rioc,  one  of  the  twelve  a- 
poflles,  fecretly  went  to  the 
high  priells,  who  were  then 
deliberating  in  what  manner 
they  might  apprehend  him, 


*"  — ^yc/iy  ^i-  }j.v^oi  yyvTt^  »>  a.C'j.iy~t!f .     Theoc.  Eid.  15.  114. 

^  S'f  7p/f«  fignifies  to  Jhakc,  viix,  confoimd.  "  They  thought  at  the 
very  firft  onfet  oi  the  cavnlry  the  enemies  would  be  thro-Mti  into  confu- 
fiQih  <svv7^i'\i^y.'     Plutarcli  Csfar.  133.    EJii.  Gr.  Str^hati, 

c  and 


Chap.  xiv.  by   Mar 

and  he  offered  to  deliver  him 
into  their  hands. 

II  At  this  propofal  they 
were  tranfporteci  with  the  mofl 
extravagant  joy,  and  offered 
him  a  ium  of  money,  if  he 
would  execute  his  defign  — 
From  that  moment  he  ftudied 
a  favourable  opportunity  of 
furrendering  himi  into  their 
power. 

§ — 12  Ow  the  firfl 
unleavened  bread,  the 
ciples  came  to  Jefus  and  adv- 
ed  him,  where  he  would  have 
them  make  preparations  for 
killing  and  eating  the  pafchal 
iamb. 

13  Upon  this  he  felefted 
two  from  among  them,  and 
faid  to  them  —  Go  into  the 
city,  and  you  will  meet  a  man 
in  the  flreet  carrying  a  pitcher 
of  water — follow  him. 

14  And  into  whatever  houfe 


day  of 
dif- 


he  enters,  go  in  with  him  and 
tell  the  perfon,  that  your  ma- 
fier  defires  he  would  accom- 
modate  him  with  a  room,  in 
which  to  cat  the  pafchal  lamb 
with  his  difciples. 

15  And  he  will  immediate- 
ly conduct  you  into  a  large 
apartment  fpread  with  a  car- 
pet and  furniihcd  with  every 
convenience — here  make  the 
neceilary  preparations. 

1 6  Receiving  this  order  the 
two  difciples v/cnt  into  the  ci- 
ty, and  found  every  c  ire  urn - 
fiance  cxadly  correlpond  to 


K.  155 

what  Jefus  had  told  them  — ■ 
they  therefore  made  every 
thing  ready  againft  his  corn- 

17  In  the  evenmg  he  en- 
tered the  room  with  the  reft 
of  his  difciples. 

18  But  whilft  they  were 
fitting  at  table  Jefus  faid  to 
them^ — I  moft  certainly  know 
that  one  of  you  who  are  now 
eating  with  me,  hath  formed 
a  treacherous  refolution  to  de- 
liver me  into  the  hands  of  my 
enemies,  and  will  execute  his 
defigns. 

19  So  unexpefted  a  decla- 
ration threw  them  into  ex- 
treme forrow  and  dejeftion, 
ind  they  began  with  the  great- 
eft  folicitudc,  one  after  an- 
other, to  afkhim,  if  he  thought 
he  was  capable  of  fuch  horrid 
wickednefs. 

20  He  replied  —  It  is  the 
perfon,  who  is  now  helping 
himfelf  out  of  the  difh. 

2  I  The  fon  of  man  indeed 
VN^ill  make  that  exit  which  the 
antient  prophets  predicted  — • 
but  woe  to  that  wretch,  who 
is  perfidioufly  accelfary  to  his 
death  !  Thrice  happy  would 
it  be  for  that  wretch,  had  he 
never  been  born  ! 

§  —  22  While  they  were 
at  fupper  Jclus  took  bread, 
and  after  devoutly  blefihig 
God,  he  broke  it,  and  diftri- 
biitcd  it  amongft  them,  fay^ 
ing  —  Take  cTnd'  eat  of  this 

bread 


,S6 


T^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xiv. 


bread  —  this  figuratively  re- 
preicnts  my  body. 

23  After  this  he  took  the 
cup,  and  after  folemnly  of- 
fering up  his  gratitude  to 
God,  he  gave  it  to  them,  and 
they  all  drank  of  it. 

24  He  then  iiiid  to  them 
—This  reprefents  my  blood, 
by  the  effufion  of  which  the 
new  covenant  will  be  ratified, 
and  the  bcft  interefts  of  man- 
kind be  fubferved. 

25  I  folemnly  aflure  you 
that  I  fliaJl  not  tafte  any  more 
wine  till  the  time  of  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Mclliah's  king- 
dom \ 

26  After  they  had  fung 
the  pafchal  hymn,  they  left 
the  city,  and  retired  to  the 
mount  of  Olives. 

27  Here  Jefus  faid  to  them 
■ — You  will  all  this  very  night 
appear  afhamed  of  my  caufe 

and  abandon  me •  ib  that 

your  behaviour  will  beexaft- 
iy  fimilar  to  what  is  defcribed 
in  the  following  paffage  of  the 
prophet —  "  I  will  imite  the 
fliepherd,  and  the  flock  fliall 
be  immediately  difperled." 

28  But  after  my  refurrec- 
tion  from  the  grave  I  will  ad- 
vance diredly  into  Galilee, 
and  there  again  converfe  with 
you. 

29  Peter  inftantly   replied 


with  warmth — Tho'  the  whole 
body  of  thy  companions  de- 
fert  thee,  yet  I  am  deliberately 
determined  to  adhere  to  thee. 

30  Jefus  faid  to  him  —  I 
affuredly  tell  thee,  that  this 
very  night,  before  the  cock 
hath  crowed  twice,  thou  wilt 
utter  the  moftfolemn  alfeve- 
rations,  that  thou  never  hadft 
any  the  leaft  connexions  with 
me. 

3 1  Peter  upon  this  repeat- 
ed with  great  vehemence  his 
fixed  determinations  never  to 
relinquifh  him,  and  faid  —  I 
will  never  abjure  thy  caufe, 
tho'  I  am  thereby  expofed  to 
the  moil  dreadful  and  ex- 
cruciating death — All  the  refb 
of  the  difciples  made  the  fame 
peremptory  aflertions. 

§ —  32  After  this  com- 
ing to  a  place  called  Gethfe- 
mane,  he  faid  to  his  difciples 
— Stay  here,  while  I  advance 
a  little  farther  and  pray. 

33  He  then  took  with  him, 
Peter,  James  and  John — who 
foon  perceived  him  to  fink 
into  the  mofl  dire  diftrefs  and 
horrour. 

34  He  faid  to  them — I  feel 
my  whole  foul  overwhelmed 
in  an  agony  of  forrow — my 
heart  is  pierced  and  penetrat- 
ed with  an  excefs  of  anguifh, 
which  almoft  finks  me  into 


^  Referring  to  his  rrfurrcdlcn at  which  his  kingdom   properly  was 

eireflcd. 

death 


Chap.  xiv.  by   Mark. 

death •  Do  Hay  here  and 

watch. 

35  He  then  advanced  a 
little  way  from  them,  and 
proftrated  himfelf  upon  the 
ground,  and  earneftly  begged 
of  God,  that  the  impending 
mileries  might  be  removed. 

36  The  words  he  fervently 

uttered  were  thefe O  my 

Father  !  thy  power  is  equal 
to  the  execution  of  every  thing 
— Suffer  me  not  to  be  involv- 
ed  in   thefe  horrid  fufferino;s 

—  But  I  check  myfelf,  and 
with  compofure  refign  my- 
felf entirely  to  thy  will. 
.  37  After  pronouncing  thefe 
words  he  returned  to  his  dif- 
ciples,  and  found  them  afleep 

—  he  waked  Peter  and  faid 
•^Simon,  why  doft  thou  fuf- 
fer  thyfelf  to  be  thus  over- 
come with  fleep  —  art  thou 
not  able  to  fit  up  with  me 
one  hour  ? 

38  Awake  and  earneftly 
implore  God,  that  he  v/ould 
not  fuffer  you  to  be  feduced 
into  fin  — —  But  indeed  your 
difpofitions  are  benevolentand 
lincere,  but  animal  nature 
weak  and  languid. 

—  39  After  this  he  again  left 
Ithem,  and  fervently  repeated 
the  fame  prayer. 

40  On  his  return  to  them 
a  fecond  time,  he  ao:ain  found 
them  funk  in  deep  repofe  — 
tor  they  were  oppreffed  v;ith 
fatigue,    and  were   fo   over- 


Sl 


come   with    fleep    that    they 
were  at  a  lofs  what  to  reply. 

41  Retiring  from  them  and 
praying,  he  came  back  to  them 
a  third  time  and  faid — You 
may  continue  your  flumbers, 
and  indulge  an  uninterrupied 
repofe -»- for  my  confli6l  is  c- 
ver — the  moment  in  which  I 
am  to  be  feized  is  come  —  I 
am  inftantly  to  be  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  thofe  who 
have  long  thirfted  for  my 
blood. 

42  Rife  and  let  us  go  — 
the  traitor  is  at  hand. 

43  He  had  not  pronounced 
all  thefe  words  before  Judas 
appeared,  attended  with  a 
large  body  of  ruffians,  armed 
with  fwords  and  clubs,  whom 
the  high  priefts,  fcribesj  and 
magiftrates  had  hired  for  this 
purpofe. 

44  The  fignal,  which  was 
mutually  agreed  on  was  this 
—  The  perlon,  faid  Judas  to 
them,  whom  I  fhall  falute,  is 
the  man  —  The  moment  you 
fee  me  do  this,  feize  and  fe- 
cure  him. 

45  Accordingly  he  ad- 
vanced up  to  him,  and  in 
the  moft  refpeftful  m.ann^r 
accofted  and  faluted  him.  on 

46  Upon  which  the  rabble 
inftantly  rufhed  upon  him  and 
apprehended  him. 

47  One  of  Jefus'  compa- 
nions, feeing  this  violence, 
drew  his  fword aimed  a 

blow 


15S  TJjc  Hiilory 

blow  at  the  head  of  a  flave 
belonging  to  the  high  prielc 
' — and  cut  off  his  ear. 

48  Jellis  ihid  to  thofe  who 
feized  him — What  indi^ced 
you  to  trapan  mc,  like  Tome 
notorious  robber,  in  this  clan- 
deftine  and  outrageous  man- 
ner ? 

49  When  I  was  every  day 
inflrucling  the  people  in  thtr 
temple,  you  made  no  attempts 
upon  my  perfon  —  But  the 
fcripture  predictions  concern- 
ing me  muft  receive  their  ac- 
complilhment. 

50  As  foon  as  the  difciples 
faw  their  mafter  in  the  power 
of  the  rabble,  they  all  iled 
with  the  utmolt  precipitation. 

51  Am.ong  the  companions 
of  Jefus  was  a  young  perfon, 
who  was  arrayed  only  in  a 
loofe  linen  vefl*: 

52  He  being  feized  by 
the  officers  left  his  garment 
in  their  hands,  and  made  his 
efcape. 

§ — 53  Those  who  appre- 
hended Jefus,  immediately 
carried  him  to  the  houfe  of 
the  high  priell,  where  all  the 
principal  clergy  and  magi- 
Itrates  were  convened. 

54  Peter  followed  the  crowd 
at  a  diilance,  and  entered  with 
them  into  the  hall  of  the  high 
prieft,  where  he  mingled  with 


of  Jesus        Chap.  xlv. 

the  fervants,  and  fat  down  at 
the  fire. 

c^S  When  Jefus  ftood  be- 
fore this  affemblv,  they  all 
ftudied  to  fuborn  perfons  to 
o;ive  in  fuch  evidence  as  mio;ht 
render  him  obnoxious  to  ca- 
pital punifhment — but  at  firil 
they  were  not  able  to  procure 
aich. 

P)(j  For  tho'  there  were 
many  perfons,  who  alledged 
againft  him  crim.es  that  were 
notorioufly  falfe  and  unjuft — 
yet  what  they  fpecified  ap- 
peared too  trifling  and  frivo- 
lous "  to  condemn  him  to 
death. 

p,"]  After  this  certain  per- 
fons flood  up,  who  maliciouf- 
ly  mifreprefenting  Ibme  ex- 
preffions  which  he  had  for- 
merly ufed,  faid, 

58 — We  folemnly  declare, 
that  we  once  heard  him  utter 
thefe  affertions — I  will  totally 
demolifh  this  temple,  which 
hiJth  been  conftrucled  with 
fuch  infinite  labour  —  and  in 
three  days  time,  unafTifted  by 
any  one,  I  will  rear  it  up  in 
all  its  former  fplendour  and 
magnificence. 

59  But  neither  did  they 
deem  this  a  fufficient  pretence 
for  pronouncing  the  fentence 
of  death  upon  him. 

60  The   high  priefls  then 


'  \ffd.i.UicrcUy,  were  not  i\.t\  adequate  Y^tlcnce  to  give  fentence  of  death 
againft  him — dia  not  come  up  to  the  point,  as  we  fay. 

flood 


Chap.  :xiv.  hy  M  a  r 

flood  up  in  the  midft  of  the 
affcmbly,  and  faid  to  Jefus — 
Have  you  no  apology  to  of- 
fer ?  — why  do  not  you  vindi- 
cate yourfelf  from  the  heavy 
charges,  that  are  now  brought 
again  ft  you  ? 

6 1  But  Jefus  knowing 
their  determined  refolutions 
to  fhed  his  blood,  kept  a  pro- 
found filence  —  The  high 
prieft,  a  fecond  time,  folemn- 
ly  interrogated  him  and  faid 
—  Art  thou  the  Mefiiah,  the 
fon  of  the  ever  blefled  God  ? 

62  Jefus  faid  —  he  v-^as — 
and  added  —  you  flmll  in  no 
long  time  behold  an  illuftri- 
ous  proof  that  I  am — for  you 
fhall  fee  me  invefted  with 
matchlefs  power,  advanced 
to  the  higheft  dignity  and 
glory,  and  riding  in  triumph- 
ant majefty  on  the  clouds  of 
heaven ^ 

63  The  high  priefb  upon 
hearing  this  fprung  from  his 
feat — rent  his  veil — and  faid 
to  the  aflembly  —  What  oc- 
cafion  have  we  for  farther 
evidence  ? 

64  You  have  heard  the 
blafphemies  he  hath  uttered 
— What  are  your  fcntiments  ? 
The  whole  afiembiy  de- 
clared v/ith  one  unanimous 
voice,  that 


159 


le  ought  to  die. 

(^^  The    fentence    V'.'as  no 

i,  but  the  rabble 


fooner  paffci 


began  to  treat  him  with  the 
greateft  indignities — they  fpit 
in  his  face-=-hoodwinked  him 

—  the  high  priefts  fervants 
ftruck  him  with  their  fids, 
and  faid — Great  prophet !  de- 
clare the  perfon's  name,  v/ho 
ftruck  you  laft. 

§  —  66  While  Peter  was 
in  the  hall  impatiently  wait- 
ing for  the  event,  one  of  the 
maid  fervants  came  up  to 
him, 

67  and  after  looking  ear- 
neftly  at  him,  as  he  was  warm- 
ing himfclf  at  the  fire,  faid — 
Was  not  you  one  of  the  con- 
ftant  companions  of  Jefus  of 
Nazareth  ? 

68  He  declared  in  the  mod 
folemn  manner,  that  he  never 
was,  and  that  he  did  not 
know  what  fhe  meant  —  Go- 
ing after  this  into  tiie  court, 
the  cock  crew. 

6(^  Here  another  fervant 
maid  feeing  him,  faid  to  thofe 
whoftoodby — That  man  v;as 
one  of  Jefus'  difciples. 

70  He  again  peremptorily 
denied,  that  he  ever  was — < 
upon  which  the  people  pre- 
lent  gat'iering  round  him  faid 

—  Undoubtedly  thou  art  — 
for  thy  dialed  demonftrates 
thee  to  be  a  Galilean. 

71  He  then  began  to  bind 
himfelf  with  the  moil  horrid 
imprecations  and  ciirfcs,  that 


^  He  refers  to  the  dellruction  of-Jerufalem  by  the  Romans, 


he 


i6o  I' he  Hiflory 

he  never  had  any  connexions 
with  that  man,  and  Ivvore  that 
he  did  not  perlonally  know 
him. 

72  The  cock  crowed  again 
which  inflantly  brought 
to  his  remembrance  what  Je- 
fus  had  laid  a  few  hours  be- 
fore   that  ere  the   cock 

had  crowed  twice  he  fhould 
folemnly  deny  that  he   ever 

knew  him Soon  as  the 

thought  of  this  ruflied  into 
his  mind,  he  muffled  up  his 
head  in  his  garment  ^,  and 
fhed  a  flood  of  bitter  tears. 

CHAR   XV. 

I  C  O  O  N  as  the  morn- 
^  ing  dawned,  the  high 
priefts,  the  fcribes,  the  ma- 
giftrates,  and  all  the  San- 
hedrim afiembled  in  council 
—  and  after  binding  Jelus  in 
fetters,  they  carried  him  be- 
fore Pilate  the  Roman  go- 
vernour. 

2  Soon  as  he  was  brought 
into  his  prefence,  Pilate  laid 
to  him  —  Art  thou  the  king 
of  the  Jews  ?  —  Pie  anfwered 
in  the  affirmative. 

3  The  high  priefts  then- 
began  with  great  clamour 
and  vehemence  to  accufe  him 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xv. 

to   the   procurator  of  many 
crimes  and  mifdemeanours. 

4  But  Pilate  obierving  that 
Jefus  continued  filent,  faid  to 
him — Why  do  not  you  vin- 
dicate yourfelf  from  the  heavy 
charges  that  are  alledged  a- 
gainit  you, 

5  But  Jefus  ftill  maintain- 
ing a  profound  filence,  the 
governour  was  aftonifhed  at 
his  condudi. 

6  It  had  been  cuftomary 
for  the  procurator  to  gratify 
the  Jews  at  every  palTover 
with  releafmg  any  one  prifo- 
ner,  whofe  pardon  they  fhould 
then  folicit. 

7  There  happened  at  that 
time  to  be  one  Barabbas  un- 
der confinement,  together 
with  his  accomplices — who 
had  a  little  before  raifed  an 
infurreclion  in  the  flate,  in 
which  a  great  many  cruelties 
and  murders  had  been  per- 
petrated. 

8  When,  therefore,  the 
people,  according  to  the  cuf- 
tom  he  had  introduced,  be- 
gan to  fupplicate  the  ufual 
favour  : 

9  Pilate  replied  —  Sliall  I 
gratify  you  with  relcafing  the 
perfon  who  ililcs  himlllf  your 
kins  ? 


f  This  is  a  juft  tranflaticn  of  the  Greek.  The  following  is  a  parallel 
palTage.  "  When  Cato  faw  a  thoiifand  citizens  dead  osi  the  field,  he 
covered  his  face  with  his  gown  and  wept.  A-thaS?i' -7./.«>.t-.l.f//ri'©-  v.ai 
KccTaXAy.fVffdi.    Plutard'  C/r/art  p.  1334.  Edit.  Steph. 

10  For 


6. 


Chap.  XV. 


hy    M 


ARK. 


]6l 


10  For  he  was  conlcious 
that  it  was  only  their  impla- 
cable malice,  which  had  in- 
ftigated  them  to  thefe  pro- 
ceedings againfl  him. 

1 1  But  the  high  priefts 
urged  the  people  to  requeit 
him  to  releafe  Barabbas, 

12  The  governour  then  aik- 
ed  them — what  they  were  de- 
firous  he  fhould  do  with  the 
perfon  who  had  afllimed  the 
title  of  their  king  ? 

13  Immediately  all  the  po- 
pulace with  loud  and  vehe- 
ment clamours  cried  out  — 
let  him  be  crucified. 

14  Pilate  aflced  them,  what 
crime  he  had  committed,  that 
deferved  capital  punilhment? 
—But  they  with  a  ftill  louder 
and  more  violent  vociferation 
roared  out  —  crucify  him ! 

15  The  governour,  ftudi- 
ous  to  conciliate  the  efteem 
and  favour  of  the  people, 
yielded  to  their  reiterated  en- 
treaties, and  releafed  Barab- 
bas— He  then  fentenced  Je- 
fus  to  be  firft  fcourged,  and 
afterwards  dragged  to  the 
crofs. 

§  —  16  After  this,  his 
guards  took  him  into  the 
Prsetorium,  and  called  toge- 
ther the  whole  cohort. 

17  The  Roman  foldiers, 
being  here  colledled,  arrayed 
him  in  a  purple  robe,  and 
compofing  a  wreath  of  thorns 

Vol.  L 


in  the  form,  of  a  diadem,  they 
fixed  it  upon  his  head. 

18  Having  invefted  him 
with  thefe  badges  of  mock 
royalty,  they  proftrated  them- 
felves  at  his  feet,  and  cried— 
Long  live  the  illuftrious  king 
of  Judaea! 

19  They  then  flruck  him 
on  the  head  v/ith  a  cane  — 
fpit  in  his  face  —  and  amidft 
this  wanton  infolence  would 
at  times  fall  on  their  knees, 
and  pay  him  mock  adoration.- 

20  After  they  had  thus 
made  him  the  fubjed  of  e- 
very  infult  and  indignity  ; 
they  diverted  him  of  the  pur* 
pie  robe,  and  putting  on  him 
his  own  cloaths,  they  con- 
ducted him  from  the  Prseto- 
rium  to  the  place  of  cruci- 
fixion. 

2 1  In'  their  way,  happen- 
ing to  meet  one  Simon  of 
Cyrene,  as  he  was  coming 
from  the  country,  the  fa- 
ther of  Alexander  and  Ru- 
fus,  they  obliged  him  to  car- 
ry the  crofs. 

22  The  place  to  which 
they  conduced  him,  was 
from  the  execution  of  cri- 
minals called  Gokotka.  which 
tranOated  fignifies  a  fliull. 

23  When  they  arrived  here 
they  offered  him  a  ilunefy- 
ing  potion,  a  compofition  of 
myrrh  and  wine  —  but  he  re- 
jedled  it. 

M  24  After 


;62  The  Hiftory 

24  After  tliey  had  nailed 
him  to  the  crofs  they  divided 
his  cloaths  into  leparate  par- 
cels, and  caft  lots  tor  them. 

25  It  was  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning  when  they  nail- 
ed him  to  the  crof?. 

26  Over  his  head  they 
fixed  up  this  inl'cription,  im- 
porting the  crime  for  which 
he  fuitered  —  The  King  of 
THE  Jew^s. 

27  On  each  fide  of  him  were 
alfo  crucified  two  thieves. 

28  So  that  the  following 
antient  prediction  v/as  re- 
markably accomplifhed 

*'  He  made  his  exit,  con- 
founded with  the  wicked." 

29  Perfons  moreover  as 
they  pafied  by  the  place, 
loaded  him  with  the  moil  a- 
bufive  language,  contemptu- 
oully  fhaking  their  heacis,  and 
laying— O  thou,  who  could- 
eft  demolifh  the  temple,  and 
rear  it  up  again  in  three  days 
in  all  its  fplendour  ! 

30  Come  nov/  deliver  thy- 
frlf  from  dcatli !  L.et  us  fee 
tliee  defcend  from  thy  crofs ! 

-  3 1  In  the  fame  opprobrious 
manner,  the  high  priefts  and 
the  fcribes  mocked  and  de- 
rided him,  faying — He,  who 
refcued  fo  many  others,  is  he 
not  able  to  refcue  himfeif, 
from  death? 

32  Let  us  now  fee  the  iJluf- 
trious  MefTiah,  the  powerful 
monarch    of  IlVael,   defcend 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xv. 

from  the  crofs,  and  we  will 
credit  his  pretenfions — -His 
fellow  fufferers  too  upbraid- 
ed hin)  in  the  fame  petulant 
manner. 

§ — -2^1  At  twelve  o'clock, 
the  whole  land  of  Judsa  was 
luddenly  enveloped  in  dark- 
nefs,  which  continued  'till 
three  In  the  afternoon. 

34  At  three  o'clock  Jefus 
recited  the  following  padage 
of  fcripture  with  a  loud  and 
ftrong  voice — Eloi,  Eloi,  la- 
ma fabachthani — which  rranf- 
iated  fignifies  — O  my  God! 
my  God  !  why  halt  thou  a- 
bandoned  me ! 

35  Some  who  were  pre- 
fent,  hearing  him  utter  thefe 

v/ords,  laid Hark  !   He 

calls  upon  Elias  to  fave  him  I 

'^(y  One  of  the  guards  then 
ran,  dipped  a  fpunge  in  vi- 
negar, fixed  it  to  a  reed,  and 
reached  it  to  him  to  drink — 
laying,  let  us  fee  whether 
Elias  will  defcend  from  hea- 
ven to  take  him  from  the 
crofs. 

37  Soon  after  this  Jefus 
uttered  a  loud  and  vehement 
vociferation,  and  expired. 

38  Immediately  the  great 
veil,  which  divided  the  holy 
of  holies  from  tlic  fanftuary, 
was  violently  torn  afunder, 
from  the  top  to  the  bottom. 

39  When  the  Roman  cen- 
turion, who  was  appointed  to 
keep  guard,  and  who  was  a 

witnels 


Chap.  xvi.  hy 

witnefs  of  the  whole  fcene, 
beheld  the  manner  in  which 
he  made  his  exit,  and  obferv- 
ed  with  what  a  Joud  vehe- 
mence he  exclaimed,  the  mo- 
ment before  he  departed — he 
was  ftruck  with  afconiihment, 
and  faid  —  Surely  this  perfon 
was  the  offspring  of  a  God  ! 

40  Tliere  were,  moreover, 
feveral  women,  who  flood  at 
fome  diftance,  and  were  fpec- 
tators  of  every  thing  that 
paflTed  —  among  thefe  were 
Mary  Magdalene,  another 
Mary  the  mother  of  James 
and  Jofes,  and  Salome. 

41  Thefe  had  accompa- 
nied him  in  his  feveral  tours 
through  Galilee,  and  had  con- 
tributed  to  his  maintenance 

■There  were  alfo  among 
them  feveral  other  women, 
who  had  attended  him  in  his 
laft  journey  up  to  Jerufalem. 
§ — 42  In  the  evening  (the 
next  day  being  the  Jewifh 
fabbath) 

43  one  Jofeph  of  Arima- 
thea,  a  member  of  the  San- 
hedrim, and  a  perfon  of  a 
moft  amiable  chara6ler,  who 
was  impatiently  expefting  the 
eredlion  of  the  Meffiah's  king- 
dom, went  with  an  undaunt- 
ed refolution  to  Pilate,  and 
begged  he  would  give  him 
the  body  of  Jefus. 

44  The  procurator  appear- 
ed furprized,  and  could  hard- 
ly be  induced  to  believe  that 


Mark. 


163 

he  was  dead  fo  foon  —  'till 
fending  for  the  centurion  he 
afked,  whether  he  had  ex- 
pired. 

45  The  officer  afTuring  him 
that  he  had  breathed  his  laft, 
he  ordered  that  the  body 
fhould  be  delivered  to  Jo- 
feph. 

46  This  gentleman  taking 
the  corpfe  down  from  the 
crofs,  fwathed  it  in  fine  linen, 
and  interred  it  in  a  monu- 
ment, which  he  had  dug  out 
of  the  folid  rock,  and  in  which 
he  defigned  his  own  remains 
(liould  bedepofited — He  then 
rolled  a  large  ftone  to  block 
up  and  fecure  the  entrance  of 
the  tomb. 

47  Mary  Magdalene,  and 
Mary  the  mother  of  Jofes  faw 
him  employed  in  this  pious 
office,  and  remarked  the  place 
where  he  was  rcpofited. 

CHAP.   XVI. 

I  COON  as  the  fabbath 
»^  was  pafl,  Mary  Mag- 
dalene, Mary  the  Mother  of 
James,  and  Salome,  bought 
a  large  quantity  of  aromatic 
rpices  to  embalm  him. 

2  And  very  early  on  the 
firfl  day  of  the  week,  they 
let  out  in  a  body  for  the  fe- 
pulchre  —  the  rays  of  the  ri- 
ung  fun  now  itreaking  the 
edge  of  the  horizon. 

3  As  they  went  they  faid 

M  2  one 


164 


Tbt 


Hillory 


one  to  another — Whom  fhall 
we  procure  to  roll  away  the 
Hone,  that  blocks  up  the  en- 
trance of  the  tomb. 

4  But  upon  their  arrival 
they  foon  oblcrvTd  that  the 
immenfe  (tone  had  already 
been  removed  from  the  mouth 
of  the  fepulchre. 

5  This  allowing  them  a 
free  paflage,  they  immediately 
entered  themonunient  —  but 
were  greatly  frighted  with 
the  apparition  of  an  angel 
in  the  form  of  a  young  per- 
fon,  who  fat  on  their  right 
hand,  arrayed  in  a  long  white 
tranfparent  ftole. 

6  The  angel  then  fpoke  to 
them  and  faid  —  Be  not  inti- 
midated—  You  are  feeking 
for  the  body  of  Jefus  of  Na- 
zareth who  was  lately  cruci- 
fied—  he  is  not  here— —he  is 
rilen  from  the  dead ap- 
proach and  view  the  pkce 
where  they  dcpofited  his 
corpfe. 

7  And  do  you  jnftantly  go, 
and  inform  Peter  and  the  reft 
of  the  difciples,  that  he  is  ad- 
vancing before  them  into  (3a- 
lilee,  where  he  will  exhibit 
himfelf  alive  before  them, 
and  convcrfe  with  them,  as 
he  formerly  allured  them. 


of  Jesus        Chap.  xvi. 

8  Immediately  they  ilTued 
out  of  the  tomb,  and  ran  with 
the  greateil  precipitation  — 
agitated  with  the  moft  tumul- 
tuous palTions,  aftonilhment, 
terrour,  and  ecftacy,  which 
now  ftruggled  in  their  bo- 
foms. 

§ — 9  After  his  refurrec- 
tion,  the  very  firft  perfon  that 
he  appeared  to  was  Mary 
Magdalene,  whom  he  had 
formerly  cured  of  the  moft 
rap-ino;  and  dreadful  mad- 
nels  \ 

10  She  went  direftly  to  the 
difciples,  who  were  now  la- 
menting, and  inconfolable  for 
his  death. 

1 1  When  fhe  acquainted 
them  that  he  was  really  re- 
ftorcd  to  life,  and  that  fhe 
had  herlelf  an  ocular  demon- 
ftration  of  itj  they  could  not 
believe  it. 

12  After  this  as  two  of 
them  were  walking  into  the 
country,  he  appeared  to  them 
in  the  form  of  a  ftranger  — 
and  at  laft  difcovered  himfelf 
to  them. 

13  But  when  they  went 
and  told  the  reft,  that  they 
had  certainly  feen  him,  they 
could  not  convince  them. 

14  Afterwards  he  fliowed 


^  The  numberyf-x-^w  in  the  Jewifh  idiom  was  ufed  a.s  n  fuperlative,  and 
to  denote  a  large  indeterminate  number.  Confult  (icn.  xxxiii.  3.  Pk.lm, 
xii.  6.  Pr.  cxix.  164.  Deut.  xxviii.  7.  1  Sam.  ii.  q.  I'he  number /t'«  is 
thus  ufed  in  latin  authors.     See  Ovid  Trift.  L.  i.  El.  ii.  50. 

himfelf 


Chap.xvi.  by   M 

himfelf  to  all  the  eleven  dif- 
ciples,  as  they  were  fitting 
together  at  table,  and  up- 
braided them  with  their  in- 
credulity and  ftupid  inicnfi- 
bility— -— feverely  reproving 
them  for  not  crediting  the  re- 
ports of  thofe  who  had  feen 
him  foon  after  his  refurrec- 
tion. 

15  Finally,  he  fiid  to  them 
—  Go  into  all  the  nations  of 
the  world,  and  proclaim  the 
glad  tidings  of  the  MefTiah's 
kingdom  to  the  whole  crea- 
tion. 

1 6  He  who  is  convinced  by 
its  evidence,  and  by  baptifm 
folemnly  lays  himfelf  under 
an  obligation  to  live  accord- 
ing to  his  profelTion,  fhall  be 
faved  —  but  he  who  difbe- 
lieves  and  rejefls  it,  fliall  be 
condemned. 

1 7  Thofe  who  fincerely  be- 
lieve the  gofpel,  fhall  be  en- 
abled to  exert  the  following 
miraculous  gifts  —^  I  will  en- 
dow them  with  power  to  e- 
jecft  dasmons,  and  fluently  to 


A   R   K.  165 

fpeak  languages  they  never 
learned  : 

1 8  They  fhall  play  with 
venomous  ferpents,  unhurt 
—  the  mod  fell  poifon,  that 
they  m.ay  drink,  fhall  not  in 
the  leaft  affeft  and  injure 
them — they  fliall  inflanta- 
neoufly,  by  a  fmgle  touch, 
reftore  the  indifpofed  to  per- 
fcft  health. 

19  After  Jefus  had  fpoken 
thefe  words,  he  vifibly  afcend- 
ed  to  heaven — and  was  there 
advanced,  by  thefupreme  Fa- 
ther of  all,  to  the  moll  emi- 
nent and  diftinguifhed  dig- 
nity. 

20  The  difciples,  accord- 
ing to  his  laft  diredlions,  went 
from  Jerufalem  into  every  * 
country,  and  promulgated  the 
gofpel   in  every  region,   into 

which    they    travelled 

the  Lord  powerfully  co- 
operating with  them,  and 
conftantly  ratifying  the  doc- 
trines they  delivered  by  the 
moft  iliullrious  and  incon- 
teftable  miracles. 


*  From  this  circumftance  It  appears  either  that  Mark  did  not  write  his 
gofpel  fo  foon  as  hath  been  generally  imagined  ;  or,  that  this  vcrfe  was 
added  after  the  author's  deceafe,  as  many  of  the /«/?  verfes  of  the  book» 
of  the  Old  Teliament  undoubtedly  were. 


M  3 


THE 


i66 


The  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  i. 


THE 


HISTORY    OF    JESUS 


B 


LUKE. 


^         CHAP.   I. 

1  AS  there  have  been  fe- 
£\_  veral  perlons  who 
have  compiled  and  publifhed 
to  the  world  hiflorical  ac- 
counts of  thofe  celebrated 
tranfaftions,  for  the  veracity 
of  which  we  have  fuch  ample 
and  undoubted  evidence  •,"*■ 

2  having  been  furnifjied 
with  materials  by  thofe  per- 
fons,  who  were  not  only  the 
preachers  of  Chriftianity,  but 
from  the  beginning  were  eye- 
witnefles  of  the  fads  them- 
felves:'] 

3  after  their  example  I  too, 
O  moil  illuftrious  Thecpbilus^ 
after  having  diligently  ex- 
amined into  thefe  events,  and 
accurately  inveftigated  them 
to  their  fource,  have  judged 
it  proper  to  digeft  them  into 
a  regular  and  connected  nar- 
ration, and  to  exhibit  them 
before  you  i'N^ 

4  in  ordef^  that  you  may 
fee  on  wiiat  a  firm  and  un- 


iliaken  bafis  that  religious 
fyilem  is  fupported,  into  the 
do6trines  of  which  you  have 
been  carefully  initiated.) 

5  In  the  days  or  .Herod 
the  Great,  the  fovereign  of 
Judea,  there  lived  a  certain 
pricft  called  Zacharias,  be- 
longing to  the  eighth  weekly 
clafs  of  Abia  —  his  wife  Eli- 
fabeth  was  alfo  a  defcendant 
of  Aaron. 

6  They  both  were  perfons 
of  the  moft  amiable  charac- 
ters, pofleflfed  of  unfpotted 
virtue  and  integrity,  paying 
an  uniform  and  confcientious 
obedience  to  all  the  moral 
and  ceremonious  injunftions 
of  the  law. 

7  Their  mutual  happinefs 
was  only  allayed  by  the  He- 
rility  of  Elifabeth,  and  by 
confiderations  on  their  ad- 
vanced age,  which  had  now 
precluded  the  plcafing  hope 
of  their  ever  being  blelicd 
with  children. 

8  As  tills  pcrlbn  was  one 

day 


chap.  i. 


by    Luke. 


day  difcharging  the  appoint- 
ed offices  of  his  miniftry  in 
the  temple, 

9  it  being  his  lor,  accord- 
ins  to  the  reo-ulation  of  the 
priefthood,  to  fprinkle  in- 
cenfe  on  the  facred  altar  : 

10  It  happened,  as  he  was 
in  the  fanctuary  devoutly  en- 
gaged in  this  holy  employ- 
ment, and  the  afTembled  mul- 
titude flood  in  the  court  of 
the  temple,  offering  their  fer- 
vent fupplications  to  heaven, 

1 1  that  a  celeftial  mefien- 
ger,  in  a  glorious  form,  fud- 
denly  appeared  to  him,  and 
flood  on  the  right  fide  of  the 
altar,  as  he  was  officiating. 

1 2  So  amazing  a  fight  at 
once  fufpended  all  his  facul- 
ties, and  flruck  him  with  fear 
and  terror  unutterable. 

1 3  The  heavenly  form  then 
with  a  placid  countenance  ad- 
drefTed  him  and  faid — Zacha- 
rias !  difpel  thy  fears  ! — Thy 
prayer  hath  been  accepted  — 
thy  wife  Elifabeth  fhall  bear 
thee  a  fon,  whom  thou  fliak 
call  John. 

14  His  birth  will  not  fill 
thy  bofom  only  with  the  pur- 
eft  tranfports,  but  the  public 
alfo  will  Ihare  in  thine  ecftatic 
raptures. 

15  For  he  flTall  become  a 
truly    great    and    illuflrious 


167 

perfonage,  will  through  the 
whole  of  life  praclife  the  moil 
fevere  and  rigid  abftinence, 
and  in  his  early  years  fliall  be 
inlpired  with  the  divine  af- 
flatus. 

16  By  the  exercife  of  his 
prophetic  gifts,  and  the  dif- 
charge  of  his  diflinguiffied 
miniilry,  will  he  reclaim  thou- 
finds  of  the  Jews  from  their 
vices,  and  powerfully  induce 
rhem  to  obey  the  divine  com- 
mands. 

17  By  this  general  refor- 
mation, which  he  fliall  intro- 
duce and  execute  with  the 
fame  ardent  fpirit  and  zeal 
which  formerly  actuated  E- 
lias — he  will  again  conciliate 
to  the  Jews  the  alienated  af- 
redions  of  their  holy  proge- 
nitors— and  by  reducing  the 
wicked  and  depraved  to  vir- 
tue and  obedience,  will  pre- 
pare the  JewiOi  nation  for 
the  reception  of  the  MeiTiah. 

1 8  Zacharias  faid  unto  the 
ange).  By  what  proof  fhall  I 
be  convinced  of  the  certainty 
of  what  you  predi6l,  fince  I 
am  an  old  man,  and  my  wife 
alio  is  fo  tar  advanced  in 
years } 

ig  I  am  Gabriel,  replied 
the  angel,  who  am  one  of 
the  m.oft  illuftrious  of  the 
heavenly  fpirits  ^  and   have 


^  To  fee  the  face  of  a  prince  and  to  be  in  his  prefencey  is  an  eaftern  idiom 
importing  the  moft  illuftrious  and  dignified  ftations.  See  Mat.'xviii.  10. 
and  the  note  there.     Ellher,  i.  14.  ' 

M  4  been 


1 68 


T^he  Hiftory  o/'  J  e  s  u  s 


Chap. 


1. 


teen  delegated  by  the  Su- 
preme to  communicate  to 
thee  thefe  joyful  events  : 

20  But  ilnce  thou  wert  not 
difpofed  to  credit  thcle  pre- 
di6tions,  which  1  was  com- 
miffioned  to  impart  to  thee 
—  thou  fhalt  be  rendered  in- 
capable of  fpeaking  a  word 
'till  the  time  of  their  accom- 
pliiliment. 

§ — 21  During  this  tranf- 
adlion  the  people  waited  in 
the  court  of  the  temple^ 


wondering,  what  could  have 
induced  Zacharias  to  Hay  fo 
long  in  the  fanftuary  beyond 
the  ufual  time. 

22  But  when  he  came  out 
to  pronounce  the  ufual  bene- 
diftion  and  difm.ifs  them  — 
he  found  the  faculty  of  fpeech 
entirely  fufpended— he  made 
figns  to  them,  by  which  they 
vjnderftood  that  he  had  feen 
a  vifion  in  the  temple. 

§ — 23  When  the  courfe  of 
his  minillration,  according  to 
the  regular  prefcribed  order 
which  had  been  long  cilab- 
lifhed,  was  fulfilled  — —  Za- 
charias quitted  the  city  and 
returned  to  his  own  houfe. 

24  Soon  after  this  his  wife 

Elifabech  conceived but 

concealed  her  pregnancy  from 
the  world  five  months, 

25  bleffing  God  for  his 
fingular  benignity  to  her  in 
giving  her  a  child,  and  wip- 


ing away  her  dil"honour  and 
reproach  among  men. 

§ — 26  In  the  fixth  month 
of  Ehfabeth's  pregnancy  God 
deputed  the  angel  Gabriel  to 
Nazareth  a  Town  in  Galilee, 

27  commanding  him  to 
vifit  a  certain  virgin,  whofe 
name  was  Mary,  who  had 
been  efpoufed  to  one  Jofeph, 
a  defcendent  from  David. 

28  Accordingly  the  angel 
entered  the  houfe  in  which 
(he  refided,  and  thus  accoft- 
ed  her  —  Hail !  O  thou  dif- 
tinguifhed  favourite  of  hea- 
ven, Hail  1  —  The  fupreme 
Jehovah  deigns  to  feled  thee 
as   the   objedl  of   his  love  1 

In  happinefs    art  thou 

infinitely  exalted  above  all 
thy  fex  ! 

29  The  appearance  and 
meflage  of  the  angel  filled 
her  with   the  lail  terror  and 

perturbation revolving  in 

her  mind  what  fo  extraordi- 
nary a  falutation  could  im- 
port— 

30  While  fhe  was  anxi- 
oufly  indulging  thefe  reflec- 
tions the  angel  refumed  — 
Banifii  thy  fears — the  blefled 
God  hath  moil  highly  diftin- 
guifhed  thte,  and  will  confer 
upon  thee  the  greateft  ho- 
nours, that  can  be  enjoyed, 

31  for  thou  flialt  immedi- 
ately conceive,  and  bear  afon, 
whom  thou  fhalt  call  'Jejus. 

32  Kc 


Chap.  i.  /5y   L  u 

32  He  Ihall  be  tranfcend- 
cntly  illuftrious  and  great, 
and  be  denominated  the  Ion 
of  the  fupreme  and  ever-blei- 
fed  God  —  The  moil  High 
will  advance  him  to  the 
throne  of  his  great  progeni- 
tor David, 

33.  and  he  fliall  fway  the 
Jev/ifh  fceptre  and  govern  the 
race  of  Jacob  for  ever,  and 
his  kingdom  fliall  be  without 
limits  and  without  end. 

^4  Mary  then  faid  to  the 
angel — How  is  it  poffible  that 
I,  who  am  as  yet  a  flranger 
to  conjugal  embraces,  fliould 
conceive,  and  give  birth  to 
the  illuftrious  perfon  you 
mention  ? 

^^  The  celeftial  meflcnger 
replied — Thy  pregnancy  (hall 
be  effeded  by  the  miraculous 
operation  of  the  divine  fpirit, 
>vhofe  powerful  influence  will 
immediately  communicate  life 
and  exifhence — on  which  ac- 
count thy  facred  offspring 
fhall  be  diftinguiflied  by  the 
peculiar  appellation  of  the 
Soft  of  God. 

36  And  in  order  that  thou 
mayeft  moft  certainly  con- 
clude that  thefe  grand  events 
will  be  accomplifhed — be  af- 
fured,  that  Elilabeth  thy  re- 
lation is  advancing  in  her 
pregnancy,  and  will  have  a 
Ion  in  her  old  age  ;  for  fhe, 
who  hath  fo  long  been  reput- 


K  E.  169 

ed  barren,  is  now  fix  months 
gone  with  child. 

'^y  For  the  divine  power 
is  able  to  effect  the  greateft 
impoffibilities. 

38  Mary  replied— Behold ! 
I  fubmit  my  will  to  the  di- 
vine— May  I  be  crowned  with 
that  fingular  felicity  you  pre- 

did  ! The  angel  then  dif- 

appeared. 

§  —  39  Mary  being  thus 
informed  by  the  angel,  of  E- 
lifabeth's  conception,  haftcn- 
ed  to  the  mountainous  coun- 
try, and  entering  the  houlc 
where  Zacj-'iarias  dwelled, 

40  went  diredlly  to  Elifa- 
beth,  and  congratulated  her 
upon  her  pregnancy. 

41  In  the  midft  of  thefc 
joyful  gratulations  the  babe 
of  Elifabeth  violently  moved 
and  leaped,  as  if  affefted  with 
fympathetic  tranfport  —  Eli- 
fabeth then  was  inftantly  fil- 
led with  the  divine  afflatus, 

42  and  with  ecftatic  tranf- 
ports  fhe  cried  out  in  a  loud 
exclamation — Bleffed  art  thou 
above  all  thy  fex  !  Bleffed  is 
the  babe  of  which  thou  art 
now  pregnant ! 

43  What  aftonifhing  con- 
defcenfion  is  this,  that  the 
mother  of  the  Meffiah  thus 
deigns  to  vifit  me  ! 

44  Amazing  circumftance! 
the  mom.ent  thou  didft  feli- 
citate  mc,   my   babe,  as   if 

tranfported 


ijo  The  Hiflory 

tranfportcd  with  the  glorious 
profpedl,  fprung  with  rapture 
within  me  ! 

45  Thrice  happy  art  thou, 
who  didft  not  diftruft  the  di- 
vine mefiage — for  every  cir- 
cumftance,  that  hath  been 
-mentioned,  the  divine  vera- 
city v;ill  mod  certainly  ac- 
complifb. 

'^  46  Then  Mary  in  a  reli- 
gious ecftacy  crif  d  out — My 
foul  with  reverence  adores 
my  Creator ! 

47  and  all  my  faculties 
with  tranfport  join  in  cele- 
brating the  poodjsefs  of  God 
my  faviour!) 

48  who  hath  in  fo  fignal  a 
manner  condefcended  to  re- 
gard my  obfcure  and  hum- 
ble ftation  —  Tranfcendent 
goodnefs  !  every  future  age 
■will  now  conjoin  in  celebrat- 
ing my  diitinguifhed  happi- 
nefs !  '^' 

49  For  ever  adored  be  the 
matchlefs  goodnefs  of  that 
omnipotent  Being,  who  hath 
deigned  to  confer  upon  me 
an  honour  fo  illuftrious  and 
divine ! 

50  His  fupreme  benignity 
to  thofe  who  obey  him  will 
ever  continue  immutable  and 
infinite  thro'  all  the  revolving 
ages  of  time  and  eternity."!, 

51  How  irrefiftible  is  liis 
potent  arm!  How  are  the  in- 
folent  and  towering  imagina- 


of  Jesus  Chap.  i. 

tions  of  the  opulent  and  haugh- 
ty crufhed  in  a  moment ! 

52  From  the  proud  mo- 
narch he  tears  his  diadem, 
and  fixes  it  upon  the  brow  of 
humble  and  obfcure  virtue. 

53  He  degrades  the  rich 
and  infolent  to  penury  and 
wretchednefs,  and  elevates 
opprefled  and  fuffering  merit 
to  opulence  and  dignity. 

54  He  hath  powerfully 
fupported  the  finking  ilate  of 
Ifrael, 

r^^  continuing  to  us  that 
mercy  and  benevolence,  which 
he  Ihewed  to  Abraham  and 

his  defcendents and  will 

amply  fulfil  thofe  promifes, 
which  he  made  to  our  great 
and  holy  anceftors. 

c^6  Mary  after  having  (laid 
with  her  about  three  months 
returned  home. 

§ — 57  The  period  of  Eli- 
fabeth's  pregnancy  was  now 
completed  —  and  fhe  was  de- 
livered of  a  fon. 

58  The  joyful  news  foori 
reached  all  her  relations  and 
neighbours  —  who  haded  to 
congratulate  h:-  •  on  that  dif- 
tinguifhed  happ-ncfs  that  hea- 
ven had  fiiowa  her. 

c;9  The  eight ii  day  being 
come,  on  which  according  to 
the  Jewifh  cultom  the  child 
was  to  be  circumcifed,  their 
friends  and  acquaintance  all 
met — intending  to  call  him 
Zacha- 


Chap.  i. 


by    L  u  K  E. 


Zacharias  after  the  name  of 
this  father  : 

60  But  Elifabeth  oppofed 
them,  faying.  Pie  fhall  be 
called  John. 

61  Againft  this  they  re- 
monftrated — exprefTing  their 
ailonifhment,  that  flie  Ihould 
choofe  a  name  which  none  of 
her  relations  bore. 

62  They  intimated  to  the 
father  their  embarralTment, 
and  defired  him  to  fix  on  a 
name. 

63  He  then  by  figns  afk- 
ed  for  a  writing  tablet  —  in 
which  he  wrote  his  name  ;  at 
the  fame  time  faying  with  an 
articulate  voice — He  fhall  be 
called  J^/j«  —  They  were  all 
feized  with  aftonifhment, 

64  for  his  fpeech  was  in- 
flantaneoufly  reftored,  and 
with  diftind-  accents  he  paid 
his  pious  and  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments to  heaven. 

6^  Thefe  my fterious  events 
excited  religious  awe  and  re- 
verence in  the  whole  neigh- 


bourhood 


and  in  all  the 


mountainous  country  of  Ju- 
dea  was  the  fame  of  thcie 
amazing  tranfaftions  foon  dif- 
fufed  : 

66  And  all  who  heard  this 
uncommon  relation  anxioufly 
revolved  all  the  circumftances 
of  it  in  their  minds — faying. 
What  a  great  and  eminent 
perfonage  will  this  child  be, 
who  is  thus  miraculoufly  dif- 


171 

tinguifhed!  —  The  child  ex- 
hibited early  and  convincing 
proofs  to  every  fpedatop  that 
God  was  its  guardian  and 
friend. 

67  Zacharias  was  then  feiz- 
ed with  a  divine  afflatus,  and 
uttered  the  following  fublime 
prophetic  ftrains  — 

68  For  ever  bleflTed  be  the 
fupreme  Jehovah,  the  benign 
guardian  of  Ifrael,  for  plan- 
ning fuch  a  gracious  fcheme 
of  redemption  for  his  favou- 
rite nation, 

69  by  mercifully  raifing 
fuch  a  potent  and  illuftrious 
deliverer  for  us  in  the  family 
of  David  ! 

70  In  how  fignal  a  manner 
is  he  now  accomplifhing  thofe 
tranfporting  afllirances,  which 
he  commiflioned  his  holy  pro- 
phets, at  various  times,  ever 
fince  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  to  communicate  to  his 
people — 

7 1  that  he  would  crufh  the 
power  of  all  our  inveterate 
foes,  and  vindicate  us  into 
perfe6b  freedom  and  liberty : 

72 — that  he  would  accom- 
plifh  that  gracious  promife, 
which  he  made  to  our  an- 
ftors: 

73  —  and  fulfil  every  en- 
gagement of  that  covenant, 
which  he  eftablifhed  with  A- 
braham  our  great  progenitor, 
and  ratified  by  the  moft  fo- 
lemn  oath  : 

74  Exhi- 


172 

74  Exhibiting  before  them 
the  joyful  prol"pe6b  of  that 
happy  time,  when  he  would 
completely  refcue  us  from 
the  power  of  our  adverfaries, 
and  reinftate  us  in  fuch  tran- 
quility and  peace,  that  we 
might,  in  undiflurbed  repofe, 
ferve  him  without  flavifli  fear, 

75  and  fpend  the  rcfidue 
of  our  lives  in  the  alTiduous 
cukivation  and  purfuit  of 
univerfal  holinefs  and  virtue, 

76  And  thou,  O  illuflrious 
babe,  fhalt  foon  be  diftin- 
guifhed  as  a  mod  eminent 
prophet  —  for  thou  fhalt  be 
the  immediate  predecefibr  of 
the  MefTiah,  to  prepare  the 
world  for  his  reception  : 

77  and  thine  appointed  of- 
fice will  be  topublilh  to  man- 
kind forgivcnefs  of  fins  upon 
finccrc  repentance,  and  to 
proclaim  the  fpeedy  erection 
of  the  Mefliah's  kingdom. 

78  Thefe  blefiings  are  o- 
riginally  derived  to  us  from 
the  unexhaufled  fountain  of 
the  Divine  benignity — which 
hath  now  caufed  ,this  bright 
refulgent  fun  to  rife  upon  the 


The  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  ii. 

world,  and  to  blefs  us  with 
its  mild  rcfrefhing  beams, 

79  difpelling  that  gloomy 
darknefs,  in  which  mankind 
have  been  ib  long  enveloped, 
and  by  its  falutary  rays  clear- 
ly difcovering  to  us  the  path 
that  conducts  to  virtue  and 
happinefs. 

§ — 80 The  child  foondifco- 
vtred  an  uncommon  ftreno-th 
and  vigour  of  underilanding 
—  but  refided  in  the  defarts 
of  Judaea  'till  the  time  that 
his  public  miniflry  com- 
menced. 


CHAP.    II. 

I  A  BOUT  that  time  an 
^^  edi6t  was  publiflied 
by  Auguilus  Csefar  that  a 
general  cenfus  fhould  be 
m^ade  throughout  the  whole, 
extent  of  Judea. 

2  This  was  the  firjl '  cen- 
fus —  and  was  executed  by 
Quirinius  the  pr^efeft  of  Sy- 
ria. ; 

3  In  confequence  of  this 
edift  all  repaired  to  the '" 
towns   to  which  they  refpec- 

'   It  was  the  frjl  that  Quirinius  executed — for  he  executed  one  oftpr- 

<vjards,  when  he  was  prxfedt  of  Syria,  which  caufed  a  rebellion.— The 

word  d.-TToy^aoi^  here  ufcd  by  Luke  does  not  merely  fignify  to  tax,  but 
to  enroll,  regijler,'  record — Xerxes  before  the  engagement  fet  a  number  of 
writers  upon  an  eminence  dTOptfjp^t&v  KetTo.  fxa'^yy  -to.  TcarTOf^.evs, 
to  regifter  the  particular  tranfadions  of  the  fight — When  ./Emilius  was 
cenfor  there  were  enrolled  efTr'yfa.'^.avTc,  &c.  Plutarch  Themift.  p.  216. 
and  ^milius,  502.    Edit.  Steph. 

"'  This  was  done  in  order  to  prevent  confufion  in  taking  the  cenfus, 
Pofthumius  the   Conful  iffued  a  p^iblic  cdift  that  all  the  Latin  allies  in 
fuis  civitatibus  cenferentur.    Livii,  Lib.  42.  Tom.  3.  p.  507.  Edit.  Els. 
4  tively 


Chap.  ii. 


by   Luke. 


173 


tively  belonged,  in  order  to 
be  enrolled  in  the  public  re- 
gifter. 

4  Among  others  Jofeph 
went  from  Nazareth,  a  town 
in  Galilee,  to  Bethlehem  rhe 
place  of  David's  Nativity,  as 
he  was  a  defcendent  from  that 
prince, 

5  to  be  enrolled  along  wiih 
Mary  to  whom  he  had  been 
efpoufed — and  who  was  then 
far  advanced  in  her  preg- 
nancy. 

6  Duringr  their  continuance 
here,  the  time  of  her  delivery 
approached, 

7  and  fh€  brought  forth  a 
fon  —  whom  fhe  Iwathed  — 
but  was  obliged  to  repofit 
him  in  a  manger — being  un- 
able to  procure  accommoda- 
tion in  the  inn,  by  reafon  of 
the  vaft  concourle  of  people, 
with  which  the  town  at  that 
time  was  crowded. 

§  —  8  It  happened  that 
there  were  in  the  adjacent 
fields  a  company  of  fhepherds, 
employing  the  hours  of  night 
in  guarding  their  refpedive 
flocks. 

9  But  behold  !  while  they 
were  thus  occupied — a  moft 
glorious  and  inexprefllble 
fplendour  "  inftantaneoufly 
furrounded  them  —  and  they 
faw  a  bright  heavenly  form 


approach — which  filled  them 
with  the  laft  confternation. 

10  The  angel  then  ad- 
d  re  (Ted  himfelf  to  them  and 
faid  —  "  Difpel  your  terrors 
— for  I  am  commifTioned  to 
report  to  you  a  moft  joyful 
and  tranfporting  event,  in 
which  the  whole  world  is 
interefted  ! 

1 1  For  this  very  day,  in 
the  city  of  David,  the  Sa- 
viour —  the  great  Meffiah — 
is  born! 

12  By  thefe  tokens  you 
may  eafily  diftinguifh  the  il- 
luftrious  babe — You  will  find 
him  fwathed,  and  depofited 
in  a  man2;er." 

I  r>  The  anprel  ended — and 
was  inftantly  joined  by  my- 
riads of  celeftial  fpirits,  who 
celebrated  the  divine  benig- 
nity in  the  moft  fublime  and 
rapturous  ftrains — repeating, 

14  "  O  let  the  higheft-  an- 
gelic orders  hymn  the  praife 
of  God  !  O  what  happinefs 
hath  now  blefled  the  world  i 
O  what  inefi^able  benevolence 
is  now  expreficd  towards 
men  ! 

15  Soon  as  the  heavenly 
choir  difappeared,  the  ftiep- 
herds  faid  one  to  another — 
Let  us  immediately  go  to 
Bethlehem,  and  be  eye-wit- 
nefles  of  this   grand   event. 


"  In  the  original  the  glory  of  the  Lord-^of  the  Lord  being  the  Hebrew 
fuperlative.     See  Chap.  i.  76, 

which 


174 

which  God  hath  been  pleafed 
in  this  fignal  manner  to  com- 
municate to  us. 

1 6  Accordingly  they  all 
hafted  with  rapid  and  impa- 
tient ilcps  to  the  town — where 
they    Ibon  found   Mary  and 

.  Joieph  anxiouily  watching  o- 
ver  the  intant,  vvhich  was  ly- 
ing in  a  manp-er. 

17  Soon  as  they  had  feen 
the  infant,  they  publickly  re- 
ported every  circumftance 
which  the  angel  had  recount- 
ed to  them  concerning  the 
child. 

1 8  And  all,  who  heard  the 
account  which  thefe  fliep- 
herds  gave  of  that  amazing 
fcene  of  which  they  had  been 
fpe6tators,  were  filled  with 
extreme  aftonifliment. 

19  But  Mary  in  filent  re- 
flection revolved  the  iliep- 
herds'  words  in  her  mind — 
comparing  this  recent  event 
with  former  tranfactions  of  a 
fimilar  miraculous  nature. 

20  The  fhcpherds,  after 
having  pubiifhed  a  detail  of 
the  vifion,  returned  —  cele- 
brating with  great  emotion 
the  praifes  of  God  for  the 
great  event  tl.cy  had  feen, 
and  for  his  condefcenfion  in 
informing  them  of  it  in  fo  il- 
luftrious  a  manner. 

§ — 2 1  On  the  eighth  day, 
according  to  the  Jewifli  cuf- 
tom,  he  was  circumcifed  — 
and   they  called  him  Jesus, 


Ihe  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  if. 


the  name  which  the  angel  had 
given  him  before  his  concep- 
tion. 

22  And  when  the  time  ap- 
pointed in  the  law  for  the  pu- 
rification of  women  after  child- 
birth was  completed they 

carried  the  babe  into  the  tem- 
ple, to  make  the  cuftomary 
dedication  of  him  to  God. 

23  For  the  law  prefcribes 
that  every  nrft-born  male 
child  fhall  be  folemnly  confe- 
crated  to  God. 

24  Mary  therefore  offered 
a  couple  of  young  pigeons — 
the  ulual  oblation  of  the  poor- 
er fort  upon  this  occafion. 

§ — 25  At  this  time  there 
was  at  Jerufalem  one  Simeon,  a 
perfon  of  eminent  piety  and 
diftinguiflied  virtue,  who  was 
endowed  with  the  gift  of  pro- 
phecy, and  who  had  lived  for 
lome  time  in  ardent  exped:a- 
tion  of  feeing  the  Meffiah 
ufhered  into  the  world. 

26  Thefe  his  expe<5Lations 
were  founded  on  a  divine  af- 
furance,  that  he  fliould  live 
to  fee  this  grand  and  glorious 
event. 

27  This  holy  perfon,  while 
the  parents  of  Jei'us  were  em- 
ployed in  preparing  the  cuf- 
tomary  oblation,  by  a  prophe- 
tic impulfe  and  direction  came 
into  the  temple, 

28  and   advancing  up  to 
them,  took  the  child — folded 
him  in  his  arms — and  with  re- 
ligious 


Chap.  ii.  by  L 

ligious  tranfport  poured  out 
his  gratitude  to  God — faying, 

29  O  God !    thy  promife 

to  me  is  amply  fulfilled ! 

I  now  quit  the  port  of  hu- 
man life  with  fatisfaftion  and 

joy  '• 

30  lince  thou  hail  indulg- 
ed mine  eyes  with  fo  divine 
a  fpeftacle,  as  the  great  Mef- 
fiah ! 

31  Whom  thou  haft  now 
fent  into  the  world  to  blefs 
mankind — 

32 — to  impart  happinefs  to 
Ifrael^   and  to  diffufe  facred 
light  amono;   the 
Heathens ! 

33  The  aftions  and  lan- 
guage of  this  good  man  filled 
Jofeph  and  Mary  with  ex- 
treme aftonifhment. 

34  Simeon  then  folemnly 
gave  the  infant  his  benedidii- 
on — and  laid  to  Mary,  "  This 
child  is  appointed  of  God  to 
be  the  great  teft  of  the  moral 
difpofitions  of  the  Jews  ■ 
Many  will  accordingly  em- 
brace, and  many  will  rejeft 
him. — he  will  be  the  common 
butt  °  to  which  the  prejudic- 


benig-hted 


U    K   E.  lyr 

ed  and  depraved  will  direct 
all  their  malice  and  calumny: 

35  And  the  cruel  miferies 
and  fufferings,  in  which  they 
will  involve  him,  will  yield 
ihee  the  accutefc  forrows,  and 
like  a  dart  f  transfix  and  tear 
tiiy  breaft. 

§ — ^6  There  was  in  the 
city  a  prophetefs  called  An- 
na, the  daughter  of  Phanuel, 
belonging  to  the  tribe  of  A- 
fer,  who  was  opprefled  with, 
extreme  old  age- — -She  had 
been  married  in  early  life,  but 
had  loft  her  hufoand  feven 
years  after  her  marriage. 

37  This  widow,  having 
now  attained  her  eighty  fourth 
year,  had  conftantiy  attended 
thefcrvice  of  the  temple,  and 
was  a  moft  eminent  pattern 
of  fervent  devotion  and  the 
ftrifteft  holinefs. 

38  Thi.'s  perfon  coming  into 
the  temple  at  the  fame  time, 
poured  forth  in  an  ecftacy  of 
joy,  her  warmeft  gratitude  to 
God,  for  indulging  her  with 
a  fight  of  the  Meffiah — and 
reprefented  that  child  as  the 
great  redeemer   to   all   who 


'  The  word  ffmiinov  fignifies  a  mark  at  which  menace/,  ov throw. 
f  Psfy-fxia.  figniiies  a  dart  ox fpear. 

/Equaque,  nee  ferro  brevior  nee  romphea  ligno. 

Valer.  Flac,  Argon.  Lib.  6. 
In  the  catalogue  of  weapons  A.  Gellius  mentions  this  word — fpelling  it 
in  latin,  i-umpia :  on  which  Thvjius'  note  is — Proprie  erat  hafdiis  eenus. 
A.  Ccllius  Var-".  562.  ' 

were 


176 


The  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap,  ii^ 


were  at  that  time  ardently  ex- 
pe6ling  his  appearance  '*. 

§ — 39  Joseph  and  Mary 
after  they  had  performed  all 
the  rites,  which  the  law  prc- 
fcribed,  returned  to  Nazareth 
in  Galilee. 

40  As  the  child  grew  up 
he  loon  difplayed  uncommon 
abilities,  and  a  penetration 
and  wildom  greatly  fuperioui 
to  his  yeirs — there  wa>  aHo  a 
divine  beauty  and  grace  dif- 
fufed  over  his  perfon  ^ 

41  His  parents  conftantly 
took  a  journey  every  year  to 
the  capital  at  the  feaft  of  the 
paflbver. 

42  ^¥hen  he  had  attained 
his  twelfth  year,  therefore, 
they  went  up  to  the  city,  as 
•ufual,  to  celebrate  this  fo- 
lemnity — and  took  him  with 
them 

43  When  the  feftival  was 


ended,  his  parents  fct  out  up- 
on their  journey  into  the  coun- 
try— not  knowing  that  their 
fon  flayed  behind  in  the  city. 

44  For  they  concluded  that 
he  was  gone  down  with  the 
company  among  whom  he  had 
travelled  up  to  the  metropo- 
lis  bur.  when  they  had  ad- 
vanced a  day's  journey,  and 
made  anxious  enquiry  after 
hmi  among  all  their  friends 
and  acquaintance, 

45  without  being  able  to 
get  any  information  where  he 
was — they  returned  with  the 
moft  painful  folicitude  to  the 
city — fpending  three  days  in 
fruitlefs  fearch  of  him. 

46  At  laft  they  found  him 
in  one  of  the  courts  of  the 
temple,  fitting  among  the 
learned  rabbies  —  ftudioufly 
liftening  to  their  inftruftions, 
and  debatino:  with  them  : 


9  How  general  this  expeftation  was,  appears  from  the  followinor  tefli- 
monies.  Percrehuerat  oricnte  tcto  vetus  et  conjians  opinio,  efTe  in  fatis  ut 
eo  tempore  Judaea  profecti  rerum  potirentur.  Sucion.  Fefpaf.  c.  4.  Edit. 
Var"".  p.  735.  Pluribus  perfuafio  inerat,  antiquis  facerdotum  Uteris  con- 
tineri,  eo  ipib  tempore  fore,  ut  valefceret  oriens,  profeclique  juda;a  re- 
rum  potirentur.  Tack.  Hift.  Lib.  5.  13  Edit.  Dubl.  To  H  i-rapay  eturai 
fJicLKi^ecTrp-ii  701'  'TToAifjLov  tw  yjt]:rf^-Q-  a(J.otCo^.&-  ofxoiai -tv  Ts/f  l'.pst< 
ivptiy-iv^  ypA/.fy.a.aiv,  coi  xtfrct  toi'  y.at.fpov  iy.U'ov,  a^o  71K  ;)^r.u<xf  t.'c 
Aureov  ap^ii  t«<  cikh/muh.  Jofeph.  Lib.  6.  B.  J.  Cap.  31.  Confult  alfo 
Luke  ii.  25.  c.  iii.  15.  c.  xxiv.  21.     Afts  i.  6. 

r  %rff/f  TK  05«  means  here  according  to  the  Hebrew  idiom  an  uncom- 
mon elegance  and  grace — oj  God  is  the  Jewifli  fupcrlative.  Mountains  of 
God.  -x^cfpii  is  ufcd  in  this  fenfe  by  Luke,  Ch.  iv.  22.  and  very  frequently 
by  the   Greek  writers  —  For  example,  in  a  pafiage  finiilar  to  this  in  the 

Odyffey Ta»  </'*ap'  aOhi'H 

©ia'TTiTW  itAT^yjivi  y<tpiv  KS^atAJi  T«  )ittt  eotioii.     OdylL  0  19. 

None  of  the  painters  could  do  juftice  to  Demetrius  ;  he  had  fuch  a  dig- 
nity, grace,  y^cfff^  &c.  P/uiarcb  Dcmel.  'p.  1630.  Edit.  Steph, — See  aUb 
Attsvii.  20.  and  Raphelii  not. 

47    -^"4 


Ghap.  iii.  hy    L 

47  And  all,  v/ho  were  pre- 
fcnt  at  this  conference,  were 
aftonifhed  at.  the  amazing  ia- 
.gacity  he  difcovered,  and  at 
the  pertinency  and  ibiidicy  or 
the  replies  he  made  to  the 
queftions  propoled  to  him. 

48  His  parents  finding  him 
in.  this  circle  expreffed  great 
lurprile — -his  mother  faid  to 
him,  My  child  !  what  was  it 
induced  you  to  adl  towards  us 
in  this  manner  — how  many 
bitter  forrowful  hours  have 
you  coil, your  father  and  mo- 
ther in  fearching  every  place 
for  you ! 

49  He  replied,  why  did 
you  thus  diilrefs  yourfelves  in 
fuch  an  anxious  enquiry  after 
me  ?  —  Could  you  not  con- 
clude, that  I  was  employed 
in  promoting  the  interelts  of 
my  Father  ? 

50  But  they  underllood  not 
the  meaning  of  his  expref- 
fions. 

51  Jefus  then  went  down 
with  them  to  Nazareth,  v;here 
he  refided  with  his  parents, 
and  difcharged  all  the  duties 
of  filial  piety  — All  thefe  fin- 
gular  incidents  his  mother 
treafured  up  in  her  mind,  and 
anxioufly  revolved  them  in 
her  daily  tliouo;hts. 

52  As  Jefas  advanced  m 


U   K   E.  177 

years,  he  advanced  in  wif- 
dom — and  by  his  amiiable  vir- 
tues conciliated  the  love  both 
of  God  and  man. 

CHAP.    III. 

I  T  N  the  fifteenth  year  of 
-*-  the  reign  of  Tiberius — • 
Pontiu,  Pilate  being  then 
procurator  '  of  Judsea —  He- 
rod being  tetrarch  of  Galilee 
—  his  brother  Philip  tetrarch 
of  Itursi  and  Trachonitis — 
and  Lyfanias  being  tetrarch  of 
Abilene. 

2  Annas  and  Caiaphas  be- 
ing then  alfo  high-prieds  — 
John  the  Ion  of  .ZacharJas  by 
a  prophetic  impulfe  began  his 
public  miniftry  in  thewilder- 
nefs  of  Judaea. 

3  He  firit  of  all  travelled 
about  all  the  country  that  lay 
contiguous  to  the  river  Jor- 
dan, proclaiming,  wherever 
he  went,  the  neceffity,  of  re- 
pentance and  amendment  of 
life,  in  order  to  fecure- the 
divine  forgivenefs  — -  and  ex- 
horting men  to  teftify  the  fin- 
cerity  of  their  penitence  by 
fubm.itting  to  the  rite  of  bap- 
tifm. 

4  This  is  the  perfon  whom 
Ifaiah  hath  fo  exprefsly  cha- 
racfterifed    in    the   following 


'  Auflornqmlnis  ejus  Chiiftus,  qutTiBERio  imperitante, J^zr procwr.torcm 
inrium  Pilatuii^  fuDplicio  atfedus  erat.     Tacit-  An.  xv.  44.  p.  286.  Euit. 
blin.  *  ■      ' 

Vol.  I,  N  paffage : 


Pon 
Dublin, 


1 7$  T^he  Hiftory 

paiTage:  "Hark!  the  voice 
of  an  herald,  making  procla- 
mation in  the  defert,  and  cry- 
ing— O  prepare  for  the  fpeedy 
advent  of  the  Melfiah — ftrow 
the  path  with  flowers,  in 
which  his  facred  feet  Ihall 
tread ! 

5  Every  valley  fhall  be 
filled  up  *,  every  mountain 
fliall  be  levelled,  and  the  ir- 
regular path  fhall  be  made 
dired,  the  rugged  fmooth  •, 

6  and  the  whole  earth  (hall 
behold  a  moft  amazing  ex- 
preffion  of  the  divine  bene- 
volence." 

7  Vafi:  crowds  accordingly 
reforted  to  him  to  be  bap- 
tifed — to  whom  he  thus  ad- 
drefied  himfelf :  "  O  deprav- 
ed and  profligate  race  !  who 
admonifhed  you  to  fliun  the 
impending  calamities  ? 

8  If  you  come  hither  as 
profeflTed  penitents,  fliow  the 
fincerity  and  genuinenefs  of 
your  repentance  by  a  virtu- 
ous life  —  and  do  not  value 
yourfelves  upon  having  A- 
braham  for  your  great  proge- 
nitor—  for  God  is  able  even 
from  thefe  flones  to  form  a 
race  of  men  infinitely  more 
worthy  of  Abraham,  by  in- 
Jieriting  his  virtues. 


of  Jesus  Chap.  ili. 

9  The  ax  is  this  moment 
lying  at  the  tree's  root — every 
tree  that  doth  not  bear  good 
fruit,  is  immediately  to  be 
cut  down,  and  thrown  into 
the  fire  ". 

10  The  affembled  popu- 
lace then  anxioufly  interro- 
gated him  what  they  fhould 
do. 

1 1  He  anfwered — He  who 
is  blcffed  with  plentiful  cir-- 
cumflances,  let  him  freely 
impart  food  and  raiment  to 
indigent  and  diflreiled  ob- 
jeds. 

12  The  colledlors  of  the 
taxes  likewife  came  to  be  bap- 
tiled  —  and  afked  him  what 
duties  he  recommended  to 
their  obfervance. 

13  He  replied.  Avoid  all 
fraud  and  opprefTion  in  the 
difcharge  of  your  office — and 
confine  yourfelves  within  the 
jufl  limits  of  your  depart- 
ment. 

14  The  foldicrs  aifo  de- 
manded of  him  v;hat  duties 
he  enjoined  upon  them — He 
faid,  Forbearpillaging  any  one 
upon  unj  uit  pretences — do  not 
bafely  inform  againft  any  one 
to  enrich  yourfelves  with  his 
fpoils  —  foment  no  diflurb- 
ances,    but   be    content    to 


t  This  animated  language  of  the  prophet  reminds  one  o^  \\\i^i  Xerxes 
did  in  his  ollentatious  expedition  into  Greece.  Says  Jujiin  :  MoHtes  in 
planum  ducebat,   et  convexa  vallium  sequabat.    Lib.  ii.  C.  10. 

"  John  refers  to  the  dellruftion  oi  Jeru/alem  in  this  and  the  7th  and  17th 
Vf^rlcs. 

live 


Chap.  Hi.  hy  L 

live  upon  the  pay  that  is  al- 
lowed you. 

15  The  expeflation  of  the 
fpeedy  appearance  ot  the  Mef- 
fiah  being  at  that  time  gene- 
ral, and  all  the  Jews,  after  the 
mod  dehberate  reflections, 
being  difpoled  to  conclude 
that  John  was  that  augufl:  and 
facred  perfonage, 

16  John  took  care  to  un- 
deceive them,  making  this 
declaration  to  the  whole  af- 
fembly — -I  baptize  you  only 
with  water  in  order  to  repen- 
tance— but  my  fucceflbr  is  a 
perfon  of  infinitely  greater  dig- 
nity, to  whom  I  am  not  wor- 
thy to  do  the  meanefl  office — 
He  will  baptize  you  with  the 
holy  fpirit  and  with  fire  "'. 

17  With  his  fan  he  will 
winnow  and  thoroughly  clear 
his  crops,  will  collect  and 
carefully  repofit  the  good 
grain  in  his  ftore-houie  — 
but  the  chaff  he  will  burn  up 
and  utterly  con  fume  with  in- 
extinguifliable  fire ". 

18  Thus  this  eminent  pro- 
phet continued  to  give  many 
ufeful  and  important  inftruc- 
tions  to  the  people  ; 

19  'till  at  lait  Herod  the 
tetrarch  being  exafperated  at 
his  freedom  in  rebuking  him 
for  the  atrocious  crimes  he  had 
been  guilty  of — and  above  all 


u  K  E.  T79 

for  his  incefluous  marriaiJ-e 
With  Herodias  his  brother 
Philip's  wife — 

20  caufed  him  to  be  appre- 
hended and  imprilone'i — ad- 
ding this  cruelty  and  injult.ce 
CO  his  many  other  flagrant 
enormities. 

§ 2  I   Among  the  vafl: 

multitudes,  that  crowded  to 

his  baptifn,  came  J^ius • 

who  being  baptiicd  a-id  pray- 
ing— the  fky  immediately  o- 
pened, 

22  and  the  holy  fpirit  in  a 
bodily  form  defcended  upon 
him  with  the  rapidity  of  a  dove 
—  at  the  lam.e  time  that  this 
iolemn  voice  ifl'ued  from  the 
parted  clouds—  "  Thou   art 

my  fon the  objed  of  my 

fonde'it  aflections." 

23  Jefus,  having  now  at- 
tained his  thirtieth  year,  en- 
tered upon  his  pu^-lij  minif- 
try- — His  Genealogy,  by  his 
mother's  fide,  is  exhibited  in 
the  following  table. 

Jofeph,     his   reputed 

father, 
Mary,  daughter  of 
Heli,  the  ion  of 

24  Matthat, 
Levi, 
Melchi, 
Janna, 
Jofeph, 


^  See  Acls  il.   3,4. 

*  Referring  to  the  deilruftion  of  Jerufalem. 

N  2 


Mattathias, 


i8o 


26 


27 


23 


29 


30 


31 


32 


r/'^ 

Hillory  of  Jesus         Chap,  iv 

Mattathias, 

Salmon, 

Amos, 

Naafon, 

Naum, 

EHi, 

33     Aminadab, 

Nao- ere, 

Aran, 

DD     » 

Efrom, 

Maath, 

Phares, 

Mattathias, 
Semei, 

\ 

Juda, 

Joieph, 

34     Jacob, 

Jutia, 

Jfaac, 

Joanna, 

Rhefa, 

Zorobabel, 

Abraham, 

1 

t 
1 

Tharah, 
Nachor, 

Salathiei, 

/ 

S5     Saruch, 

Neri, 

Ragau, 

Melchi, 

Phalel, 

Addi, 

i 

Heber, 

Kofam, 

Sala, 

Elmodani, 

^6     Cainan, 

Er, 

Arphaxad, 

Jofe, 

Eliezer, 

Jorim, 

Sem, 
Noe, 
Lamech, 

Matthat, 

37     Mathufela, 

Levi, 

Enoch, 

Sinicon 

Jared, 

Juda, 

Maleleel, 
Cainan, 
38     Enos, 

Jofeph, 
Jonan, 

0                               ^-^y 

Eliakint, 

Seth, 

Melea, 
Menan, 

Adam, 
GOD. 

Mattatha, 

Nathan, 

CHAP.    IV. 

David, 

I    T  E  S  U  S  having  receiv- 
*f    ed  the  divine  afflatus, 

Jefle, 

Obed, 

qi  itt.'d  Jordan — and  in  a  pro- 

Booz, 

phetic  vifion  had  the  follow- 

■ 

ing 

Chap.  i'v. 


fy   L 


U   K   E. 


i8r 


ing  fcene  exhibited  before 
him — y  He  thought  himfelf 
tranfported  into  a  dreary  de- 
lert, 

2  where  the  devil  for  forty 
days  pradtifed  every  infidious 
art  to  feduce  him  from  his 
duty — during  all  this  fpace  he 
thought  that  he  tafted  no 
food,  and  that  at  the  expira- 
tion of  this  period  he  felt  the 
painful  feniations  of  hunger  : 

3  He  then  thought  the 
tempter  affailed  him  and  laid, 
Since  thou  art  the  Meffiah, 
convert  thefe  (tones  into  bread 
to  fatisfy  thy  raging  appetite. 

4  Jefus  laid  to  him  in  the 
words  of  fcripture — The  ani- 
mal life  of  man  may  be  fuf- 
tained  not  by  food  only,  but 
by  any  other  means  that  the 
wifdom  of  God  fhall  fee  fit  to 
appoint. 

5  The  devil  then,  he 
thought,  conveyed  him  to  the 
fufiimit  of  a  mountain  of  ftu- 
pendous  height-  -and  in  a 
moment  exhibited  before  him 
all  the  kingdoms  of  the  uni- 
verfe  in  all  their  ftately  pomp 
and  magnificence; 

6  then  turned  to  him  and 
faid — All  this  o-randeur  and 
glory  v/ill  I  beftow  upon  thee 

• for  tliey  are  mine,  and  I 

lavijji  them  as  I  pleafe — 

7  if  thou  wilt  only  pro- 


ftrate  thyfelf  before  me,  and 
pay  me  religious  adoration. 

8  To  which  propofal  Jefus 
anfwered — Thou  wicked  ad- 
verfary !  depart  from  me— r- 
for  the  infallible  word  of  truth 
fays,  "  Thou  llialt  worihip 
and  obey  no  other  being  but 
the  fupreme  God  and  Father 
of  all." 

9  The  devil  then,  he 
thought,  tranfported  hioi 
througli  the  air  to  Jeruialetj}, 
and  placed  him  on  one  of  the 
battlements  of  the  temple -r- 
fayi  ng  tohim,  at  the  fame  time. 
Since  thou  art  the  Meffiah 
throw  thyfelf  down. 

10  For  the  fcripture  fays, 
"  Angels  fhall  be  appointed 
to  protect  thee, 

1 1  they  will  fupport  thee 
in  their  arms,  and  prevent 
thee  from  being  dafhed  in 
pieces." 

12  Jefus  replied  —  There 
is  another  fcripture  which 
fays,  "  Thou  ftalt  not  infult 
God's  providence  by  rulhing 
into  danger." 

1 3  The  devil,  he  thought, 
after  having  exhauiled  all  his 
efforts  in  vain  —  left  him  and 
vanifhed  away. 

§ — 14  Jesus  entered  Ga- 
lilee, endowed  v/ith  fpiritual 
gifts  and  miraculous  powers, 
which  he  beo;an  to  exert  there 


y  See  the  Notes  on  Matth.  iv. 

N  3 


— fo 


1 82  1'he  Hiftory 

> fo  that   his   fame    was 

quickly  diiiuled  through  all 
the  adjacent  country. 

15  He  alio  publickly  in- 
ftruded  the  people  in  their 
religious  aflemblics  and  was 
held  in  univerlai  admiration. 

§ — 16  Among  other  towns 
which  he  vifited,  l.e  came  alfo 
to  Nazareth,  where  he  had 
been  educated  —  and  on  the 
fabbath  day  went,  as  it  was 
his  conftant  culiom,  to  the 
fvnagog-ue  —  Here  he  ftood 
up  to  read  the  fcnptures  : 

17  And  the  prophecy  of 
Ifaiah  being  put  into  his 
hands,  he  unrolled  the  vo- 
lume, and  light  upon  the 
following  paiTage : 

'  18   "  God    hath   liberally 

'endowed  me  with  the  gifts  ot 

■  the  fpirit,  and  hath  commif- 

ffioned    nie    to   deliver   glad 

tidings  to  the  poor,  to   con- 

'fole  the  diftreffed  mind,    to 

proclaim  releafe   and  liberty 

to   the    captive,    to    impart 

fight   to    the  blind,  to  pour 

the  balm  ot"  comfort  into  the 

wounds  of  the  afflifted, 

19  and  to  publifli  to  the 
world  the  joyful  commence- 
ment of  a  moil  glorious  and 
happy  revolution." 

^o  I  laving  read  this  paf- 


cf  Jesus  Chap.  iv. 

fage  he  folded  the  volume, 
and  givinor  it  to  the  fervant 
who  had  prefented  it  to  him, 
fat  down  ^  —  and  the  eyes  of 
all  that  were  in  the  place  were 
intensely  fixed  upon  him. 

21  He  then  addreffed  him- 
felf  to  them  and  laid — The 
paflage  of  fcripture,  which 
you  have  jufl  heard  recited, 
hath  this  very  day  received 
its  accomplifhment. 

22  The  difcourfe  he  now 
delivered  raifed  in  them  ex- 
treme aftonifhment — and  the 
whole  aiTembly  were  amazed 
at  the  beauty  ^nd  elegance  cf 
his  di(5tion  *  - —  and  yet,  they 
faid,  this  is  Joleph's  fon  ! 

23  Jefus  faid  to  them  — ^ 
You  indeed  apply  to  me  the 
common  proverb,  Pliyfician  ! 
cure  thine  own  relations  and 
friends  before  Grangers  I  — 
work  the  fame  miracles  for 
us  here  in  your  own  country, 
as  we  heard  that  you  per- 
formed at  Capernaum. 

24  But  fuffer  me  to  ob- 
ferve  to  you.  That  no  pro- 
phet meets  with  acceptance 
in  the  place  of  his  birth  and 
education. 

25  For  undoubtedly  there 
were  in  Elifha's  time  great 
numbers  of  indigent  and  dif- 


»  TliC  Jev.ifh  clergy  out  of  reverence /W  »/  when  they  read  the  fcrlp- 
j^jj-eE — whcu  they  taught  the  people  theyy^/  dov:n.     See  Chap,  v,  3. 
^  ya.^H  \%  oj'ten  uled  jn  this  fcnfe  for  the  beauty  of  eloquence  £n4 

(li<5:tiOiT. 

Aax'  V  «/  X'='F'^  'tf//fi^=f<rg?>4T<«/  iiriitj^tv.    pdyff.  0. 175. 


Chap.  iv. 


by    L  u 


trefied  widows  in  Jud^a  dur- 
ing that  moll  dreadful  famine 
which  univerfally  raged,  when 
there  was  no  rain  for  three 
years  and  an  half: 

2  6  and  yet  the  prophet  was 
providentially  fent  to  the  re- 
lief of  none  of  them — he  only 
gave  miraculous  afTiftance  to 
a  poor  widow  of  Sarepta,  a 
towrj  belonging  to  the  Sido- 
nians. 

27  No  doubt  alfo  but  there 
were  many  unhappy  perfons 
in  Judsea  infeded  with  le- 
profy  in  the  days  of  Elifha — 
and  yet  not  one  of  them  was 
cured  by  that  prophet  but 
Naaman  a  Syrian. 

28  When  the  aflembly 
heard  thefe  refiedlions,  they 
were  tranfported  with  the 
moft  violent  indignation  and 
rage, 

29  and  all  unanimoufly 
rifing  up,  they  feized  him — 
dragged  him  out  of  the  town 
—  and  hurried  him  to  the 
fummit  of  the  hill,  on  v/hich 
the  town  was  built,  to  throw 
him  headlong  down  the  pre- 
cipice. 

30  But  he  rendered  him- 
felf  invifible  and  eluded  their 
fury. 

§ — 31  After  this  he  went 
to  Capernaum  a  town  in  Ga- 


K  E.  183 

lilee,  and  on  the  fabbath  day 
delivered  his  inftrudlions  to 
the  alTcmbled  multitude : 

32  who  were  all  aftoniflied 
at  the  fublimity  and  impor- 
tance of  the  truths  he  taught 
—  for  his  difcourfes  clearly 
evinced,  that  he  was  inveft- 
ed  with  a  divine  authority. 

33  There  was  in  the  af- 
fembly  ''  a  man,  who  was  at 
times  afflided  with  madneis 
— and  a  fit  of  diftraclion  hap- 
pening then  to  feize  him,  he 
cried  out  with  a  wild  and 
vehement  vociferation — 

34  Let  us  alone,  thou  Je- 
fus  of  Nazareth  —  what  con- 
cern have  you  with  us  —  are 
you  come  to  deftroy  us  —  I 
know  very  well  who  you  are 
— You  are  a  divine  prophet. 

2,S  Jefus  then  authorita- 
tively commanded  the  rao-ino; 
dileale  to  quit  him  immedi- 
ately— upon  which,  tho'  the 
man  was  now  wallowing  on 
the  ground  in  terrible  convul- 
fions,  he  was  inftantaneoufly 
reftored  to  his  underftanding 
and  reafon. 

36Atafpe(Staclefoamazing 
they  were  ftruck  with  extreme 
aftonifhment,  and  faid  one  to 

another What  furprifing 

power  is  here  exerted ! — With 
what  irrefiftible  authority  doth 


''  The  reader  of  the  facred  writings  fliould  remember  that  there  were  no 
mad-houfes  in  Juda;a  either /«^//f  or  pri'vate — but  thefe  unhappy  wretches, 
'vulgarly  fuppofed  to  be  polffeffed  with  damans,  were  fuffered  .to-  rainbie 
about. 

N  4  he 


iS4 

he  remove  the  mod  obftinate 
and  incurable  difeafes ! 

37  The  fame  of  his  mira- 
cles was  accordingly  foOn  dif- 
fufed  thro'  all  the  adjacent 
cotintry. 

§ — 38  The  worHiip  of  the 
fynagogue  being  concluded 
he  went  into  Simon's  houie — 
The  mother  in  law  of  Simon 
was  at  that  time  confined  to 
her  bed  by  a  fever,  and  they 
informed  him  of  her  condi- 
tion. 

39  He  immediately  went 
into  her  room  —  and,  Hand- 
ing  over  her,    rebuked  the 

fever every  fymptom  va- 

nifhed  in  a  moment — Ihe  rofe 
up  in  perfect  health,  and  pro- 
vided them  refrelhment. 

§ — 40  When  the  fun  was 
going  down,  all  who  had  re- 
lations and  friends  labouring 
under  any  diibrders,  brought 
them  to  him — On  every  one 
of  thefe  he  laid  his  hands,  and 
they  were  in  a  moment  blefi- 
ed  with  perfe6l  health. 

41  Many  perfons  alfo  who 
were  afflitfled  with  madnefs 
he  reflored  to  the  uk  of  their 

intellecfts" but  fuffered  not 

the  diftrafted  to  publifli  his 
chara6ler  by  any  wild  and 
noify  exclamations. 

§ — 42  The  next  day,  foon 
as  the  morning  dawned,  he 
privately  retired  from  the 
multitude  to  an  unfrequented 
fblitude  —  but  the  crowd,  as 


T'^e  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap.  v. 

foon  as  they  difcovercd  tha^ 
he  was  abfent,  made  dihgent 
fearch  for  himi — and  finding 
him,  earneftly  importuned  him 
that  he  would  continue  a- 
mcngft  them. 

43  But  he  anfwered 1 

mult  pubiifh  in-  other  towns 
the  joyful  riev/s  of  the  fpeedy 
erection  of  the  kingdom  of 
God — for  this  is  the  will  and 
appointment  of  Kirn  who  fent 
me  into  the  workl. 

44  He  accordingly  travel-' 
led  to  all  the  towns  of  Gali- 
lee,   and  publickly  delivered 
his  do6lrines  in   their  fyni- 
sosues. 


CHAP.    V. 

FTER  this  as  he  ftood' 
inftrufting  the  people 
near  the  lake  of  Gcnnefaret,  he 
v/as  fo  much  incommoded  by 
a  prodigious  multitude  who 
prelfed  forwards  to  hear  his 
do6lrine, 

2  that  feeing  two  vefiels 
lying,  which  the  fiPnermen 
had  juft  quitted  in  order  to 
dry  their  nets, 

3  he  went  on  board  one  of 
them  which  belonged  to  Si- 
mon, and  defircd  him  to  put 

off  a  little  from  fliore Me 

then  fat  down,  and  from  the 
boat  taught  the  aflembled 
crowds,  that  formed  them- 
felves  on  the  rifing  beach. 

4  When  he  had  finifiied  his 
difcourfe,  he  bad  Simon  row 

further 


Chap.  V."  hy    Luke. 

further  into  the  lake — and  to 
call  in  their  nets. 

5  Simon  anfwered.  Sir, 
we  have  luftained  great  fa- 
tio"ue  during  the  whole  night 
without  any  fuccefs — at  your 
command,  hov/ever,  I  will 
make  one  trial  more. 

6  They  threw  in  the  net 
therefore,  and  inclofed  fuch 
a  prodigious  number  of  fidies, 
that  the  net  was  ready  to  be 
torn  in  pieces  by  the  immenfe 
weight  of  them. 

7  They  called  to  their  part- 
ners in  the  other  boat  to  come 
inHrantly  to  help  them-^-thefe 
hafted  to  their  affiftance — and 
they  loaded  both  veflels  with 
flich  an  amazing  quantity, 
that  they  were  with  difficulty 
kept  from  finking. 

8  When  Simon  Peter  faw 
this  aftonifliing  fpeftacle,  he 
proftrated  himleif  at  the  feet 

of  Jefus  and  faid O  Sir, 

leave  me ! — I  am  a  finful  man, 
and  unworthy  your  facrcd  pre- 
fence ! 

9  For  he  and  all  v^/ho  were 
fpe6tators  of  this  great  mira- 
cle were  (truck  with  the  laft 
aftonifhment  at  the  vail  num- 
ber of  fiflies,  which  they  had 
caught. 


185 

10  James  and  John,  Zebe- 
dee's  fons,  were  prelent  on  this 
occafion,  and  were  Simon's 
partners — Jefus  being  a  wit- 
nefs  of  Peter's  great  amaze- 
ment and  coniternation  faid 
to  him,  Difcard  thy  fears — 
from  this  moment  thou  fhalt 
purfue  a  nobler  prey — thou 
fhah  refcue  mankind  from  the 
depths  of  fin  and  ruin  '. 

11  When  they  had  hauled 
the  vefiels  to  fnore,  they  left 
all  that  they  had,  deliberately 
determining  to  be  his  con^ 
If  ant  followers. 

§ — 12  Being  in  one  of  the, 
towns  in  that  country,  a  man 
dreadfully  infeded  with  lepro- 
fy  came  and  proftrated  him- 
felf  before  him — faying.  Sir, 
I  am.  perfuaded  you  are  able 
to  free  me  from  this  ioath- 
fome  diftemper. 

13  Jefus  extended  his  hand 
— touched  him  and  faid,  I  am 
willing  to  reftore  thee  to 
health  -^ — -Inftantly  the  lep- 
rous fcurf  was  no  more. 

14  Jefiis  then  faid  to  him, 
I  charge  thee  to  inform,  no  one 
of  the  miraculous  cure  thou 
haft  received — but  go  imme- 
diately and  fhow  thy  felf  to  the 
prieft — and  offer  the  cuftom- 


^  Zcdy^iK  fignifics  to  fa've  ali-ve  capii'ves. 

Zcoy^&i  Arfioi    q  =  ,   av  <i''ci^ia,  S^i^ai  ttrroivet.     II.  Z.  46. 

He    flew   great    numbers,  but  favtd  alive   .♦ive  thoufand,    g^oi'^/pHire. 
Plutarch  Demetrius,  p.  1664. 


ary 


i8.6 


^he  Hiilory 


ary  facrifice  as  a  public  con- 
vktion  and  evidence  that  thou 
art  perfectly  cured. 

15  But  notwithftanding 
this  peremptory  injunftion 
the  man  publifhed  the  report 
of  his  miraculous  cure  every 
where — fo  that  a  prodigious 
inultitude  excited  by  the  fame 
of  it  colleded  around  him  to 
hear  his  inftrudlions,  and  to 
be  healed  of  various  diforders. 

16  The  concourfe  of  peo- 
ple was  fo  tumultuous  and 
iroublefome,  that  he  was  o- 
bliged  privately  to  withdraw 
from  them  into  a  remote  and 
iblitary  place — that  he  might, 
"withoutdifturbance,  in  that  re  - 
eels  offer  his  devotions  to  God. 

§ — 17  About  this  time  it 
happened  as  he  was  inftrud- 
ing  the  people  and  working 
great  numbers  of  fignal  and 

iiluftrious  miracles the 

Pharifees  and  expounders 
of  the  law,  who  had  come 
from  Jerufalem,  and  from  e- 
very  town  of  Judaea  and  Gali- 
lee then  fitting  around  him^ — 

18  that  a  number  of  men 
carried  on  a  couch  a  poor  ob- 
ject afflidled  with  the  palfy — 
intending  to  lay  the  unhappy 
creature  at  his  feet. 

19  But  finding  it  impofll- 
ble  to  approach  his  perfon  by 
reafon  of  the  crowd,  they  af- 


of  Jesus  Chap.  v. 

cended  the  flairs  on  the  out- 
fide  of  the  houfe  " —  and  tak- 
ing off  lome  tiles  in  order  to 
force  open  the  trap  door  that 
was  in  the  roof — they  thro* 
this  door  let  down  the  help- 
lefs  paralytic  into  the  midft  of 
the  company  before  Jefus. 

20  Jefus  confcious  of  the 
faith  they  repofcd  in  his  mi- 
raculous power,  turned  to  the 
afflidled  perfon  and  faid — All 
thy  pafb  fins  be  now  for  ever 
pardoned ! 

2'i  The  Scribes  and  Phari- 
fees hearing  thefe  expreffions 
their  hearts  fecretly  fug 


gefled  tiiefe  fentiments — Who 
is  this  perfon  that  utters  fuch 
horrid  blafphemy  !  None  but 
the  great  God  can  forgive 
fm! 

22  Jefus,  who  perfeftly 
knew  the  human  mind  and 
all  the  refledlions  that  were 
formed  there,   faid    to  them 

Why  do  you  indulge  in 

your  breafls  fuch  invidious 
thoughts ! 

23  For  which  is  eafiefl — 
to  forgive  his  fins — or  by  a 
word  to  make  this  helplefs 
creature,  fhaking  with  the 
palfy,  to  rife  and  walk  home  ? 

24  But  you  fhall  fee  an  e- 
vident  proof  that  the  Son  ot 
man  is  endowed  with  power 
on  earth  to  forgive  fm — tie 


*  See  an  account  of  the  Jewlfii  buildings  in  Dr.  Shaw's  travels,  and 
tic  Commentators  on  Mark  ii.  4. 

then 


Chap.  V.  by    L 

then  immediately  turned  to 
the  paralytic  and  faid — Rife 
— take  up  thy  couch — and 
walk  home. 

25  Thatinftanthe  rofe  up 
• — -  threw  his   couch  upon 

his  flioulders' and  walked 

through  the  crowd  towards 
home,  in  an  ecftafy  of  religi- 
ous gratitude  to  God. 

26  Immediately  all  prefent 
were  fcruck  with  extreme  afbo- 
nifliment,  and  devoutly  ador- 
ed God — unanimoufly  declar- 
ing, that  they  had  that  day 
been  fpedlators  of  the  moft 
ftrange  and  amazino-  fcene 
that  had  ever  been  difplayed ! 

§ — 27  Passing  fome  time 
after  this  by  the  colle6lor's 
office,  he  faw  one  of  the  tax- 
gatherers  called  Levi  —  and 
faid  to  him.  Follow  me. 

28  The  man  did  not  hefi- 
tate  a  moment,  but  immedi- 
ately left  his  employment  and 
his  all,  and  followed  him. 

29  Levi  that  day  made  a 
grand  entertainment  for  him 
at  his  houfe  —  to  which  he 
alfo  invited  a  great  number 
of  tax-gatherers  and  their 
friends — who  fat  down  along 
\vith  Jefus, 


u  KE.  187 

30  At  this  his  public  con- 
dutt  the  Scribes  and  Pharifees 
were  greatly  difgufted,  and 
faid  to  his  difciples  —  What 
induces  your  mafter  to  feaft 
and  keep  company  with  pub- 
licans ^  and  perfons  of  fuch 
immoral  charafters  ? 

3 1  Jefus  overhearing  them 
faid — As  the  healthy  have  no 
occafion  for  the  phyfician,  but 
medicine  is  folely  of  ufe  to 
the  indifpofed  \ 

32  So  my  defign  in  com^ 
ing  into  this  world  was  not  to 
invite  the  virtuous — thofc 
are  already  fuch  as  I  am  de- 
firous  they  Ihould  be  —  but 
to  engage  profligate  finners 
to  repentance  and  amend- 
ment of  Hfe. 

§ — 33  Some  perfons  at  that 
time  faid  to  him.  Why  do 
John  and  the  Pharifees  enjoin 
upon  their  difciples  fuch  fre- 
quent falls  and  rigid  aufteri- 
ties  —  while  you  allow  your 
difciples  to  indulge  them- 
felves  in  fo  free  and  unre- 
ftrained  a  manner? 

34  He  replied — Can  the 
friends  and  companions  of  a 
bridegroom  faft  and  afflift 
themielves  during  the   days 


*  Thefe  publicans  had  a  moft  infamous  charader.  "  Liiculhis  goes  to 
relieve  the  cities  of  JJia,  that  were  then  miferably  harafl'ed  by  the  pub- 
iicans — the  inhabitants  being  compelled,  thro'  their  rigorous  and  exorbi- 
tar>t  demands,  to  fell  their  beautiful  fons  and  daughters,  and  the  pic- 
tures, ftatues,  and  other  rich  ornaments  of  their  temples."  Plutanb 
JjUCuJ.  p.  921.  Steph,  Well  then  might  the /k?t?  fay  of  them  : 
H^Via  lih^.di  '^rana  U<riv  a.fTa.yi{, 

of 


1 B8  ^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus 

of  nuptial  feftivity  and  joy  "^ 


—  !t  wauld  be  highly  incon- 
fifccnt  and  abilird,  while  the 
bridegroom  is  with  them,  to 
practife  the  rigors  ofabftin- 
ence,  and  immerfe  tliem- 
felves  in  gloom  and  melan- 
choly. 

35  The  time  \vill  foon 
come,  when  the  bridegroom 
fhall  be  violently  torn  from 
them  —  their  days  of  mourn- 
ing and  melancholy  will  then 
commence — He  added, 

36  For  me  to  enjoin  a  num- 
ber of  fevcre  and  painful  ob-- 
fervances  upon  my  difciples, 
who  have  been  educated  in 
the  manner  they  have  been, 
and  but  lately  embraced  my 
caufe,  would  induce  t'nem 
immediately  to  abandon  and 
abjure  it,  and  would  be  a 
conduct  as  imprudent  and 
abfurd  as  for  a  man  to  join 
a  piece  of  llrong  new  cloth 
to  an  old  and  obfolete  gar- 
ment, which  would  only  con- 
tribute to  make  it  tear  the 
worfe. 

37  Or  for  me  to  impofe  a 
courfe  of  rigid  aufterities  up- 
on my  difciples  would  be  as 
incongruous  and  fatal  as  for 
a  man  to  put  new  wine  into 
old  fkins  ^  —  by  the  fermen- 
tation    of  which    the    (kins 


Chap.  vJ. 

would  burfl:  and  the  liquor 
be  fpilied. 

38  But  as  men  forfee- 
ing  the  danger,  in  order  that 
tp.ey  may  incur  no  detriment, 
put  new  wine  into  new  flcins 
—  fo  the  fame  difcrete  treat- 
ment is  requifite  to  preferve 
my  difciples  fleady  and  at- 
tached to  me. 

39  And  as  no  man,  having 
been  accuftomed  to  drink  oldy 
can   bring;  himfelf  at  firft  to 

relifh  mrjj  wine fo  are  not 

thofe  reconciled  at  once  to  a 
ncrd}^  v;ho  have  been  long  ha- 
bituated to  ano/i,  inllicution. 

CHAP.    VI. 

I  T  T  happened  that  as  Jef- 
■^  us  v/as  paffing  through 
fome  corn  fields  on  tlie  fab- 
bath  that  firft  ^  followed  the 
fecond  day  of  the  pafibverfo- 
lemnity — his  difciples,  as  they 
Vi^ent  along,  plucked  fome  of 
the  ears,  and  rubbing  them 
in  their  hands,  eat  the  corn. 

2  Some  of  the  Pharifees, 
who  v/ere  prefent,  conceiving 
violent  refentment  at  their 
condu(fl,  faid  to  them.  Why 
do  you  violate  in  this  manner- 
the  facred  duties  of  the  fab- 
bath  ? 

3  To  this  reproof  Jefus  re- 


'  In  thofe  primitive  times  wine  was  fokly  kept  in  fkins — jj;  /'o/i'oi'«  y^.M^i 
Airfoi  «!'  a.i-\'-.i(, — O^y/.  Z.  78.     She  poured  the  wine  into  agoat-fkin. 

s  That  this  is  the  meaning  o^  auC^cLry  Sivjip-^pcojo).    See  Lamy's  in- 
troduclion,  Vol.  i.  p.  179. 

2  plied 


Chap.  vL  i)y   h 

.plied — Have  you  forgot  what 
David  did  on  a  like  occafi- 
on,  when  he  and  his  attend- 
ants were  urged  with  hunger  ? 

4  Do  not  you  remember 
that  he  went  into  the  houle 
of  God,  and  refrefhed  him- 
felf  and  his  companions  with 
the  facred  bread,  which  it  is 
highly  impious  for  any  but 
the.priefts  to  talle  "^  ? 

5  He  added — -that  the  fon 
of  man  was  authorifed  to  lit 
men  free  from  thofe  fabbati- 
cal  ceremonies  and  feverities 
which  they  had  impoled. 

§ — 6  Entering  on  ano- 
ther labbath  into  a  fvnao;ogue 
and  inftru6ling  the  people — 
there  happened  to  be  in  the 
afifembly  a  perfon  whofe  right 
hand  was  withered. 

7  This  circumflance  in- 
ftantly  excited  all  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Scribes  and  Pha- 
rifees  —  flattering  themfelves 
that  if  he  fliould  cure  this  per- 
fon on  the  fabbath,  it  would 
afford  them  fiifficient  caiife  for 
cenfurino;  and  condemnins;  his 
condu(5l. 

8  But  he  perfeclly  knew 
the  perverfe  thoughts  and  ma- 
lignant difpofitions  that  lurk- 
ed in  their  breafts- — He  then 
ordered  the  man  with  the  wi- 


U  K  E.  189 

thered  hand  to  {land  np  in  the 
midil  of  the  afTembly. 

9  He  then  turned  to  them 
and  faid — Permit  me  to  alk 
you,  v/hfether  it  be  lawful  on 
the  fabbath  day  to  pertbrra 
benevolent  or  malevolent  ac- 
tions —  to  favc  or  to  deilroy 
life? — They  kept  a  profound 
fiience '. 

10  Jefus  looking  around 
them  with  a  mixture  of  pity 
and  indignation  at  their  per- 
verfenefs  and  obftinacy,  faid 
to  the  man,  extend  thine  hand 
— He  extended  it — and  it  v/as 
inftintaneoufly  reftored  to  the 
lame  perfect  ftate  as  the  other, 

1 1  But  the  Scribes  and 
Pharifees  were  inflamed  v/ith 
the  moil  violent  rage  and  re- 
fen  tment  at  him — and  confe- 
derated together  how  they 
might  murder  him. 

§ — 12  About  that  time 
he  retired  to  a  mountain  to 
pray,  and  continued  the  whole 
night  in  an  Oratory. 

1 3  In  the  morning  he  con- 
vened his  followers,  and  fe- 
ledled  from  among  them 
twelve  perfons  whom  he  de- 
nominated Apoftles. 

14  I.  Simon  Peter 

2.  Andrew 

3.  James 


^  Ou  ya.^   7t  Tvytfyi  zti  yasi^i   KffTSpof  a.\ho 

Keci  iJ-aKet  nipofxivov  KUi  ivi  ippi(ri  7rii/^@-  i^cvra.    Odyf,  216,  S:C. 
«  This  is  the  true  reading  fupported  by  the  beft  MSS. 

4.  John 


190 


15 


T^he  Hlftory  of  Jesus 


John 

Philip 

Bartholomew 


Matthew 
Thomas 
9.  James,  fon  of  Al- 

phseus 
10.  Simon,  the  Zealot "^ 

16  II.  Jude,    brother  of 

James 
12.  Judas  Ifcariot. 

17  Having  made  choice  of 

thefe lie  defcended  with 

ihem  to  the  plain  —  where 
there  flood  the  body  of  his 
followers,  and  an  immenfe 
multitude  of  people  from  Je- 
rufalem  and  from  every  part 
of  Judaea,  and  from  the  ma- 
ritime country  that  lay  con- 
tiguous to  Tyre  and  Sidon — 
thefe  were  come  to  hear  his 
doflrines,  and  to  be  miracu- 
loufly  cured  of  their  various 
diforders. 

1 8  Accordingly  thofe,  who 
laboured  under  madnels  or 
any  other  the  moft  inveterate 
and  obftinate  difeafes,  then 
received  inltantaneous  and 
perfeiSt  cures. 

19  So  that  all  who  were 
afflicted  with  any  diftemper 
llrove  to  touch  him — for  by 
^  fingle  touch,   fuch  was  the 


Chap.  VI* 

powerful  efficacy  that  was 
derived  from  him,  every  in- 
difpofition  was  in  a  moment 
expelled. 

20  Jefus  then  looking  a- 
round  upon  his  difciples  di- 
redled  the  following  difcourfe 
to  them — Happy  are  ye  who 
are  endowed  with  true  hu- 
mility—  you  are  the  worthy 
members  and  ornaments  of 
the  gofpel  difpenfation. 

2 1  Happy  are  ye  who  arc 
now  in  indigent  circum- 
ftances,    but   contented   and 

refigned your    fufFering 

virtue  will  be  moft  abun- 
dantly recompenfed — Happy 
are  ye  who  now  with  fincere 
contrition  and  remorfe  de- 
plore your  paft  fins  —  your 
prefent  forrow  fliall  be  chang- 
ed into  ecftafies  of  joy. 

22  Happy  are  ye,  when 
the  world  fliall  purfue  you 
with  implacable  hatred  and 
deteftation — when  men  fliall 
violently  expel  and  banilh 
you  from  their  focicty — when 
they  fliall  load  you  with  abufc 
and  calumny,  and  hold  even 
your  very  names  in  abhor- 
rence on  account  of  your 
fteady  and  unfliaken  attach- 
ment to  my  caufe. 

23  In   fuch    an    hour   in- 


*  This  name  was  given  him  on  account  of  his  being  a  very  ftrenuous 
and  ixarm  advocate  for  the  Chriflian  c:iiire — Phaonius  was  a  zealous  friend 
and  follotver  of  Cato.  ^vKuji\i  Ka.TwiO''  Plutarch  Cicfar.  p.  1317. 
Steph. 

2  dulgc 


Chap.  vi.  hy 

dulge  the  higheft  tranfports 
of  heart-felt  joy  and  rapture 

» for  in  heaven  there  is  a 

glorious  crown  for  perfecuted 
virtue  —  The  wife  and  holy 
prophets  in  former  times  fuf- 
fcred  the  very  fame  indigni- 
ties. 

24  But  dreadful  will  be 
your  future  condition,  O  ye 
rich,  whofe  hearts  fuperiour 
wealth  inflates  with  pride  and 
infolence — ^Your  happinefs  is 
only  confined  within  the  nar- 
row limits  of  this  life. 

25  Dreadful  too  will  be 
your  future  unhappinefs,  who 
now  riot  in  luxury  and  in- 
temperance— you  fhall  be  ex- 
cruciated v/ith  famine — Dire 
alfo  will  be  your  mifery,  who 
yield  your  hearts  to  all  the 
excefles  of  criminal  gaiety  and 
levity you  fhall  be  over- 
whelmed with  a  flood  of  bit- 
ter forrow. 

26  Dreadful  will  be  your 
future  punifhment,  when  you 
gain  the  applaufe  of  men  by 
preaching  fuch  do6lrines  as 
flatter  and  palliate  their  vices 
— The  falfe  prophets  and  im- 
poftors  in  former  ages  were 
thus  univerfally  careflTed  and 
honoured  by  the  abandoned 
and  depraved. 

27  I  enjoin  upon  all  my 
auditors  the  following  funda- 
mental principles  of  my  reli- 
gion— Love  your  enemies — 
do   friendly   offices  to  thofe 


L  ti  k:  E. 


191 

who  purfue  you  with  hatred 
and  malevolence. 

28  Speak  well  of  thofe  who 

load  you  with  curfes and 

return  the  abufe  and  calum- 
nics  of  thofe  who  injurioufly 
afperfe  and  revile  you,  with 
prayer. 

29  My  religion  requires 
you  to  fubmit  to  unjuft  and 
contumelious  treatment  ra- 
ther than  requite  it  by  revenge 

and  to  recede  from  your 

right  in  fmall  matters,  rather 
than  contend  for  it  in  quar- 
relfome  law-fuits, 

30  Refufe  not  your  bene- 
volent afllfliance  to  thofe  who 

ibllicit  it and  as  to  thofe 

who  may  violently  wreft  from 
you  any  part  of  your  proper-i- 
ty,  rather  incur  the  lofs  with 
patience  than  reclaim  it  with, 
pafllon  and  outrage. 

3 1  Perform  the  fame  kind 
offices  to  others  as  you  your- 
felves  would  reafonably  ex- 
pedl  if  you  were  placed  in 
their  circumflrances.  / 

32  What  merit  have  you 
in  loving  only  thole,  whom 
you  know  will  return  your 
love — this  is  rifing  to  no  high- 
er attainments  than  perfons 
of  immoral  charafters  do. 

'2^1,  And  what  virtue  do  you 
exercife  in  doing  beneficent 
adlions  merely  to  thofe,  whom 
you  arc  confcious  will  requite 
you  —  a  condud:  which  even 
the  wicked  obferve. 

34  And 


192 

34  And  what  fupcriour 
acquirements  do  you  display 
by  only  lending  to  thofc, 
whom  you  are  fure  will  repay 
you — The  fordid  and  avarici- 
ous worldling  thus  lends  to 
.another,  becaufe  he  is  cer- 
tain of  being  reimburfed. 

35  But  it  is  incumbent  up- 
on vou  to  rife  to  hig-her  de- 
grees  or  moral  excellence  and 
virtue — Do  you  love  and  do 
beneficent  adlions  even  to 
your  enemies,  and  lend  to 
worthy  objects  in  diftrefs, 
without  the  mercenary  hopes 
of  a  requital — fuch  illuftrious 
virtue  will  be  amply  recom- 
pcnfed,  and  exalt  you  to  the 
mod  elevated  and  diftinguiR-j- 
ed  degrees  of  future  felicity 
- — Thus  you  will  rcfemblethe 
all-diffufive  goodnefs  of  God, 
who  extends  his  benignity  to 
the  unorrateful  and  wicked. 

36  Be  ye  therefore  com- 
panionate in  imitation  of  the 
ilivine  compaflion. 

3  7  Be  not  radi  in  cenfuring 
and  condemnino;  others,  lell: 
you  provoke  God  tojudge  you 
with  fimilar- rigor  —  But  ge- 
neroufly  forgive,  and  erafe 
from  your  brcaft.>5  the  errors 
and  injuries  of  your  fellow 
creatures,  and  God  will 
freely   forgive   you    the  of- 


The  Hiilory  ^  J  e  s  u  s  Chap.  vi. 


fences   you   have  committed 
ao;ainft  him. 

38  Give  to  objects  of  com- 
paffion,  and  God  will  re- 
quite you  with  an  ample,  fo- 
iid  and  fuperlatively  glorious 
recompenfe  ' — For  the  fam^e 
condud  which  you  obferve 
towards  men,  to  that  will  God 
conform  in  the  day  of  future 
retribution. 

39  He  then  figuratively 
faid — Can  one  blind  man  with 
fafety  lead  another  ?  —  Will 
not  both  miferably  wander 
and  perifli  ? 

40  The  pupil  is  neceflarily 
inferior  in  wifdom  and  fci- 
ence  to  his  preceptor  —  but 
every  ftudent  ought""  to  ftrive 
to  attain  the  fame  accuracy 
and  perfeflion  of  knowledge 
as  his  mafter  hath  acquired. 

41  Why  fixed  thou  thine 
eye  upon  thy  brother's  con- 
duct with  a  penetration  that 
the    fiighteil    foible    cannot 

efcape tho'  at  the   fame 

time  thou  thyfelf  art  guilty 
of  great  and  fcandalous  vices. 

42  With  what  face  canft 
thou  admonifli  others  of  their 
errors,  and  exhort  them  to 
aiiTendment  of  life,  when 
thine  own  condu<51:  is  a  no- 
torious infult  upon  thine  ad- 
monitions ? Thou    hypo- 


'  I  am  perfuacled  that  this  member  of  the  veiTc  is  to  be  underllood  as  I 
have  tranllated  it — and  ib  Dr.  C/^r/r  judicioufiy  and  juftly  interprets  it. 


"  «s-«  which  feme  MSS.  exhibit  is  the  true  reaJin^- 


crite ! 


Chap.  vi.  fy    L 

crite  !  firft  reform  what  is 
criminal  in  thine  own  life — 
and  then  gravely  remonftrate 
againft  the  petty  faults  and 
follies  of  others '. 

43  There  is  no  good  tree 
that  beareth  l?ad  fruit  —  nor 
doth  d,i?iuizrcc  bear^W  fruit. 

44  The  true  nature  of  c- 
very  tree  is  infallibly  difco- 
vered  by  its  fruit —  Thorns 
produce  not  the  lufcious  fig 
— the  bramble  bears  not  the 
generous  grape. 

45  The  good  a6lions  of  a 
virtuous  perfon  flow  from  the 
pure  fource  of  a  good  heart — 
the  a6tions  of  a  bad  man 
come  ftained   and   tindured 


u  K  E.  i^^ 

from  the  impure  fountain  of 
a  corrupt  heart"' — For  men's 
outward  aftions  and  conver- 
fation  are  but  the  overflow- 
ings of  their  hearts. 

46  Of  what  avail  is  the 
mofl:  zealous  profeflion  of  my 
religion,  when  feparate  from 
the  llrift  obfervance  of  the 
duties  I  enjoin  ? 

47  I  will  reprefent  to  you 
by  the  following  fimilitude 
the  foiid  and  unfliaken  prin- 
ciples of  every  virtuous  pro- 
feflfor  of  my  religion,  who 
hears  the  important  truths 
with  attention,  and  pra6liies 
them  with  conftancy. 

48  "  Such  an  one  refem- 

bles 


'  There  are  many  beaatiful  pafTages  in  the  clajjlcs  which  inculcate  this 
ofeful  advice. 

Cum  tea  pervideas  oculis  mala  lippus  inuniSlis, 

Cur  in  amicorum  vitiis  tarn  cernis  acutum, 

Quam  aut  aquila,  aut  Terpens  Epidaurius  ?     Horat.  Lib.  i.  Sat  3. 

Peras  impofuit  Jupiter  nobis  duas  : 
Propriis  repletam  vitiis  pod  tergum  dedit, 
Alienis  ante  peftus  fufpendit  gravem. 

Hac  re  videre  noftra  mala  non  pofiumus, 
Alii  fimul  delinquunt,  cenfores  fumus.     Pbat.iri'Fah.  Lib.  iv.    9. 

">  There  are  fom.e  fine  lines  to  this  purpofe  in  that  charming  moral 
poet  Euripides. 

O  iJ.iv  Torup©-,    zS'iV    rtA;^TAHr  KCtK©-' 

Which  I  have  thus  tranflated. 
The  vitiated  heart  is  wholly  bad. 
The  good  one,  good  :  Nor  infults,  nor  afHiflions 
Can  dry  its  fource,  or  taint  its  lucid  ftreams  ; 
It  flows  the  fame,  perennial  in  goodnefs.     Eurip.  Hecuba  594. 

n  Saint  I«'^  eminently  diftinguiflies  himfelf  in  thefe  two  laft  verfes  as 
an  elegant  ^mv:  writer — They  vie  in  propriety  and  beauty  of  ditlion  with 
the  moft  celebrated  pafTagcs  of  the  dajjics  both  of  Grssce  and  Rc?r.t. 

Voi.  L  O  AKK* 


194 

bles  a  perfon  who  intending 
to  build  an  hoiife,  lays  its 
foundation  deep  in  the  folid 
rock — lb  that  when  the  tor- 
rent roars,  and  the  winds  and 
waves  on  every  fide  affail  it — 
it  braves  their  united  fury, 
and  {lands  uninjured — being 
founded  on  the  immoveable 
bafis  of  a  rock. 

49  But  he  who  is  a  pro- 
fefibr  of  the  golpel,  and  lives 
in  open  violation  ot  its  pre- 
cepts, is  like  a  man  who 
building  an  houle  lays  its 
foundation  on  a  lool'e  and 
fiuid  furface  —  which  is  un- 
able to  fuftain  the  fliock  of 
the  firft  ftorm  that  beats  a- 
gainft  it,  but  inftantly  finks 
and  falls  in  wide  and  deplo- 
r.ible  ruin. 

CHAP.    VII. 

I  A  FTER  he  had  finifn- 
■^^  ed  the  preceding  dif 
courfe  which  tlie  people  heard 
with  pleafed  attention,  he  en- 
tered into  Capernaum. 

2  It  happened  about  this 
tiii.e  that  a  centurion's  favou- 


TZv  Iliilory  cf  Jesus        Chap.  vil. 


rite  flave  was  very  danger- 
oufly  fick,  paft  all  hopes  of 
a  recovery. 

3  When  the  Roman  of- 
ficer heard  that  Jefus  was  in 
the  town,  he  lent  to  the  Jew- 
ifii  magiftrates,  begging  they 
would  wait  upon  Jefus,  and 
prevail  with  him  by  their  en- 
treaties to  come  to  his  houfe, 
and  heal  his  beloved  flave.    - 

4  The  magiilrates  accord- 
ingly came  to  Jefus,  and  lol- 
licited  this  favour  of  him  in 
the  mofl  earnefl  terms — and, 
in  order  to  enforce  their  pe- 
tition, bcftowed  the  hi2;hefi: 
commendations  on  the  dif- 
tinguifhed  vv'orth  and  cha- 
racter of  the  centurion. 

5  Particularly  applauding 
the  love  that  this  gentleman 
bore  to  the  Jews  and  to  their 
religion — which  he  had  ma- 
nifelled  by  erecting  a  place 
of  rehgious  worfnip  for  them 
at  his  own  expence. 

6  Jefus  immediately  com- 
plied witl\  theif  requeil,  and 
went  alons:  with  them — but 
v/hen  he  was  now  almoft  arriv- 
ed at  his  houfe,  the  centurion 


hhh*   ■dJ''  ej(   aUVATO   fif^rf/,    [JiA\dt.  TTi^  lxH'ia.noi)\/' 

UkiScctQ-,  fj.iy'j,Kr.,    rroMVi  u\&-   zyyvf  «B7rf, 
Htj  iJ.ivu    hiy-.c^'v  anii}^cjv  >.xi'\r\fA  >i;^?i/9y, 

IllC)  velut  rupes  willum  qun^  prociit  in  a;quor, 
Obvia  ventojum  furiis,  expofcaque  ponto, 
Vim  curnfiam  atq;  iiiinas  pejTt-rt  c.Tliq;  marifq; 
Ipfa  immota  manens-  ■-   ■  yL'fui^',  Lib.  x.  693. 

2  lent 


Chap.  vii.  by   L 

fent  one  of  his  friends  to  him 
— begging  he  would  not  put 
himfelf  to  fuch  inconvenience 
upon  his  account,  for  that  he 
deemed  himfelf  unworthy  to 
admit  fo  divine  a  perfonage 
under  his  roof, 

7  alluring  him,  that  he  re- 
pofed  fuch  confidence  in  his 
power,  that  he  was  perfuaded 
that  by  a  fmgle  word  he 
could  reftore  his  flave  to 
perfedl  health, 

8  and  acquainting  him  — 
that  as  he,  who  v/as  a  Ro- 
man officer  and  appointed  to 
maintain  ilriifl  difcipline  in 
his  troops,  could  make  his 
military  orders  obeyed  the 
moment  he  gave  them  —  fo 
with  the  fame  facility  he  be- 
lieved he  was  able  to  make 
the  mod  obftinate  difeafes 
obey  his  powerful  ccntroul. 

9  When  Jefus  heard  this 
meflage,  he  was  ftruck  with 
aftonilhment  —  and  turning 
himfelf  round  faid  to  the 
crowd  that  followed  him,  I 
aflure  you  I  have  not  found 
in  any  one  Jew  fuch  a  diftin- 
guifhcd  inftance  of  candour 
and  of  confidence  in  my  pow- 
er, as  in  this  virtuous  Hea- 
then ! 

10  Accordingly  when  thofe 
who  delivered  this  mefiage 
returned,  they  found  the  in- 
difpofed  (lave  in  perfeft 
health. 

§  — •  1 1  It  happened  the 


u  K  E. 


95 


day  after,  as  he  was  travel- 
ling to  a  town  called  Nain, 
accompanied  with  a  large 
number  of  his  profeiled  dif- 
ciples,  and  by  an  immenfc 
multitude  of  people  ; 

1 2  at  a  very  little  diflance 
from  the  place,  a  funeral  pro- 
celTion  niet  him — a  great 
number  of  the  inhabitants 
were  attending  to  the  grave 
the  corpfe  of  the  only  fon  of 
a  difconfolate  widow. 

13  When  Jcfus  faw  her 
bathed  in  tears  and  over- 
whelmed in  a  flood  of  grief 
— fo  affe'fling  a  ipeftacle  fill- 
ed him  Vv'ith  the  ilrongeli  fy  n» 

pathy  and  compaiTion he 

went  up  to  her  and  bad  her 
reprcfs  her  forrow. 

14  He  then  advanced  up 
to  the  bier — which  the  fun- 
porters  feeing  flood  dill — and 
touching  it,  faid,  O  youth  a- 
wake  ! 

15  Inftantly  the  dead  bo- 
dy fat  up,  and  fpoke — Jefus 
then  prefented  him  to  his  mo- 
ther. 

16  Such  an  amazing  fcene 
filled  all  who  were  prefenc 
with  folemn  reverence  and 
awe — -and  they  poured  forth 
their  grateful  adorations  to 
God,  faying — What  an  illuf- 
trious  prophet  hath  appeared 

among;  us ! What  fig-nal 

bleffings  hath  God  been  pleaf- 
ed  to  confer  upon  his  favour- 
ite people ! 

O  2  17  The 


196  T^he  Hidory 

17  The  report  °  of  what 
the  people  unanimoufly  de- 
clared on  this  occafion  was 
foon  univerially  diffufed,  not 
only  in  the  adjacent  country, 
but  in  every  part  of  Judea. 

§ — 1 8  Th  E  difciples  of  John 
hearing  the  fame  of  thefe  ftu- 
pendous  miracles  reported 
them  to  their  mailer  —  upon 
which  he  immediately  lele6t- 
ed  two  of  them, 

19  and  diipatched  them  to 
Jefus,  begging  he  would  in- 
form him,  whether  he  really 
was  that  eminent  perfonage 
whom  they  had  fo  long  and 
ardently  expedled — or  whe- 
ther he  ftill  was  to  be  the  fu- 
ture ob]e<5l  of  their  hopes. 

20  Accordingly  they  wait- 
ed upon  Jefus,  and  faid 


John  the  baptift  hath  deput- 
ed us  to  you,  begging  to  be 
informed  whether  you  are  th  at 
illuflrious  prophec  the  fcrip- 
tures  teach  us  to  expert — or 
whether  fome  other  is  ftill  to 
be  the  objeft  of  our  hopes. 

21  It  happened  that  at 
the  time  when  they  deliver- 
ed their  meflao-e,  that  Tefus 
was  employed  in  reftoring 
fight  to  the  blind,  and  reafon 
to  the  difordered  in  mind — 
and  in  freeing  great  numbers 


of  Jesus  Chap.  vii. 

of  people  from  a  variety  ofo- 
ther  maladies. 

22  Jefus  after  performing 
thefe  feveral  miraculous  cures 
in  their  prefence  turned  to 
them  and  faid — Go  and  de- 
liver to  John  a  faithful  ac- 
count both  of  what  you  have 
feen  yourfelvcs  and  heard 
reported  by  others — Tell  him 
that  the  blind  are  reftored  to 
their  fight,  the  lame  to  the 
ufe  of  their  limbs,  the  lepers 
to  perfect  health,  the  deaf 
to  their  hearing,  the  dead  to 
life,  and  the  dejerted  fpirits 
of  the  poor  are  exhilarated 
with  the  joyful  profpcft  of 
immortality  ^ 

23  And  thrice  happy  is  he 
whom  neither  the  oblcurityof 
my  birth,  or  the  meannefs  of 
mycircumllanccs,  are  able  to 
prejudice  againft  me. 

§ — 24  After  the  depar- 
ture of  John's  mcfTcngcrs,  Je- 
fus took  occafion  f  o  fpeak  to  the 
coUefted  multitudes  concern- 
ing John  —  He  faid  to  them. 
What  fudden  phenomenon 
induced  you  to  flock  to  the 
wildernefs  in  fuchvaft  crowds? 
— Did  you  haften  thither  with 
fuch  eager  fteps  to  fee  fome 
common  and  trivial  objedt? 

25   What  was  it  attrarted 


o  Viz.  that  he  was  a  great  prophet.     The  very  accurate  Macknight  hath 
juftly  obfervcd  this. 


p  The  clear  clifcovery  of  a  future  ilate  was  the  \\j<xyyiKiWt   the  good 

fuch 


ncuii  to  mankind. 


Chap.  vil.  ^   L  u 

fuch  univcrfal  admiration  ? — 
Did  you  all  repair  thither  to 
fee  fomc  perfon  who  fuddenly 
made  his  appearance  there  in  a 

gay  and  fantaftic  drefs  ? 

No  ! Rich  and  fplendid 

robes  are  worn  in  the  magni- 
ficent palace,  not  in  the  drea- 
ry wildernefs. 

16  What  was  it  then  you 
crowded  to  fee  there  ? — Was 
it  a  prophet? — Yes — and  a 
prophet  I  aiilire  you  of  great- 
er eminence  and  dignity  than 
any  of  the  preceding. 

2  7  r  or  thii  is  ihe  very  perfon, 
who  is  the  objeft  of  the  fol- 
lowing preoicStion  in  Malachi 
— Behold  !  I  v/ill  fend  a  mef- 
fenger  to  be  thy  forerunner, 
in  order  that  univerfal  atten- 
tion may  be  excited,  and  that 
the  ir.inds  of  men  may  be  pre- 
vioufiy  difpofed  to  receive 
thine  inftruclions." 

28  I  affure  you  that  under 
the  mofaic  difpenfation  there 
never  appeared  a  prophet  of 
fuperior  eminence  to  John  the 
Baptifi: — neverthelefsthe  moil 
ignoble  andobfcure  teacher  of 
the  gofpel  is  invefted  with  a 
fublimcr  office  then  he  was. 

29  The  common  people  in- 
deed, and  particularly  the  tax- 
gatherers,  heard  his  inftruCti- 
ons  with  candid  and  unprejudi 
ced  minds,  and  fubmitted  to 
his  baptifm^-vindicating  the 


K   E.  297. 

wifdom,  and  chearfully  com- 
plying with  the  gracious  de- 
figns,  of  God  in  lendingfuch 
an  illuftrious  prophet. 

30  But  the  Pharifees  and 
the  doQors  of  the  law  would 
not  be  baptifed  by  him,  but 
with  invincible  obftinacy  re- 
jeifted  and  fruftrated  the  kind 
intentions  of  heaven  for  their 
reformation  and  happinefs. 

.31  iBut  fuch  is  the  per- 
verfencfs  of  temper  that  the 
prefent  generation  difcovers, 
that  no  method  of  inftruflion 
will  produce-  upon  them  its 
intended  effects — They  may 
be  properly  compared 

32  to  a  number  of  peevifli 
children,  who  are  determin- 
ed not  to  be  pieaied  with  any 
thing  their  companions  fay  or 
do — who,  when  their  play- 
fellows are  in  the  height  of 
mirth  and  chearfulnefs,  ap' 
pear  fulky  and  killen  — •  but 
are  immediately  in  tranfports 
when  they  fee  others  diifolv- 
ed  in  tears, 

33  The  difingenuous  per- 
verfenefs  of  the  prefent  age 
is  evinced  from  the  averfion 
and  contempt  they  hav^e  e- 
qually  fliown  both  to  John's 
inftruftions,  and  to  mine  — 
tho'  our  methods  and  man- 
ners were  entirely  diffimilar — 
for  John  praftifed  rigid  ob- 
Ilemioufncfs,      and     alfedted 


s  See  the  MSS. 

03 


great 


T  9^  ^hc  Hiftory  of  Jesus 

great  auflerity  and  mortifica- 
tion  in  his  diet  and  drefs — 
upon  which  they  exclaimed 
— A  mad  enthufiaft! 

34  The  Ton  of  man,  on  the 
contrary,  ftudied  no  fuch  fin- 
giil^rities,  entertained  no  Icru- 
plcs  about  any  particular  kind 
of  food  and  liquor  •,  but  free- 
ly afibciated  and  converfed 
with  men  of  all  profefiions  and 
conditions  without  diftinccion 
— yet  ftiil  they  are  difgufted, 
and  cry  out — What  a  ilave 
to  appetite  !  How  exceffively 
fond  of  wine !  What  an  infe- 
parable  companion  of  tax-ga- 
therers and  other  profligate 
wretches ! 

35  But  thofe  who  are  the 
real  friends  of  virtue,  confci- 
ous  of  its  invaluable  worth, 
embrace  it,  what  exterior  form 
foever  it  aOumes,  and  obey 
its  didates  in  what  miethod 
and  manner  foever  they  come 
recommended. 

§  —  .36  About  this  time 
one  of  the  Pharifees  afked 
liim  io  dine  Vv'ith  him  —  he 
complied  with  the  invitation, 
and  went  with  him  to  his 
houfe. 

37  But  as  he  was  at  table, 
a  woman  in  the  town  of  an 
immoral  charafter,  hearing 
that  he  was  at  dinner  in  the 
Pharifee's  houfe,  brought  an 
alabaftcr  box,  full  of  rich  per- 
fume. 


Chap.  vil. 

38  and  entering  the  room, 
flood  at  his  feet,  bathed  in  a 
flood  of  tears,  which  falling 
on  his  i^zx.  flie  wiped  them 
with  her  long dillie veiled  hair, 
and  after  imprinting  on  them 
the  moft  ardent  kiiTes,  llie 
difTufed  over  tliem  the  rich 
and  fragrant  perfume. 

39  When  the  gentleman, 
-who  invited  him,  law  the  be- 
haviour of  this  woman,  and 
that  fhe  flood  unreproved — 
he  could  not  forbear  faying  to 
himfelf — It  is  impofiible  this 
perfon  can  be  a  prophet  ! — 
Had  he  been  endowed  with 
prophetic  gifts  he  would  have 
known  that  this  woman,  who 
takes  thefe  liberties  with  him, 
is  an  abandoned  finner. 

40  But  Jefus,  who  knew 
the  fecret  reflections  he  in- 
dulged, turned  to  him  and 
faid — I  defireyour  fentiments, 
Simon,  on  the  following  cafe 
— Be  pleafcd.  Sir,  he  replied, 
to  recite  it. 

41  A   certain    gentleman 

had    tv^^o    debtors one 

owed  him  five  hundred  de- 
narii, the. other  fifty. 

42  When  the  creditor  ex- 
amined'into  their  affairs,  and 
found  thetn  both  to  be  in 
wretched  and  indi2;ent  cir- 
cumftanccj,  he  generoufly  ex- 
punged the  whole  debt  which 
they  both  had  contrafted  — — 
Now  which  of  thefe  two  will 

be 


Chap.  vii.  by  V, 

be  affefted  with  mod  grati- 
tude and  love  to  their  bene- 
fadlor  ? 

43  In  my  judgment,  re- 
plied Simon,  that  perlbn  will, 
who  had  the  greateil  debt 
freely  remitted — Your  deter- 
piination,  laid  Jefus,  is  un- 
doubtedly ju  ft. 

44  He  then  pointing  to 
the  woman  faid  to  Simon  — 
See  this  affeftionate  penitent ! 
When  I  entered  your  houfe, 
you  gave  me  no  water  to 
wafli  my  feet  —  This  defect 
ihe  hath  fupplied  by  bathing 
my  feet  with  her  tears — and 
wiping  them  with  her  hair. 

45  You  gave  me  not  die 
friendly  and  accuftomed  fa- 
lutation  —  but  (he,  from  the 
mom.ent  ^^^  entered,  hath 
imprelTed  many  affetflionate 
kilTes  upon  my  feet. 

46  You  gave  me  no  oil  to 
anoint  mine  head  "  —  but  ilie 
hath  perfumed  m,y  feet  with 
the  moft  grateful  fragrance. 

47  For  which  extraordi- 
nary and  moft  affectionate 
teftimony  of  her  love  to  me, 
I  aifure  you,  that  all  her  nu- 
merous crimes  ftiall  be  for 
ever  cancelled  —  and  as  the 


u  K  E.  199 

love  of  the  beneficiary  will 
be  in  proportion  to  the  be- 
nefaction conferred — he  who 
hath  a  fmall  debt  remitted, 
being  touched  with  a  propor- 
tionally fmall  degree  of  gra- 
titude— {o  this  woman  hav- 
ing all  her  crimes,  which  are 
very  numerous,  at  once  to- 
tally obliterated,  will  love  her. 
benefadtor  v/ith  the  higheft: 
de«;ree  of  ardour  and  con- 
ftancy. 

48  He  then  turning  to  the 
woman  faid — From  this  mo-.- 
ment  all  thy  paft  fins  are  for-- 
given  ! 

49  The  company  who  fat 
at  table  with  him,  hearing 
fuch  language,  faid  one  to- 
another,  What  perfon  is  this, 
v/ho  thus  impioufly  arrogates 
tohimfelfa  power  to  forgive 
fins  ? 

c^o  But  Jefus,  difregarding 
their  invidious  murmurs,  re-r 
peated  his  aifurance  to  the 
woman,  faying,  The  faith  you 
have  repoied  in  me  hath  fe? 
cured  to  you  this  bleffing  — • 
Go  and  enjoy  all  that  mental 
happinefs,  which  fo  diftin- 
gifilhed  a  favour  mull  iniT 
part. 


'  Wafiing  the  feet  and  a?iointing  the  head  -vjith  oil,  were  t\\.e  firjl  civilities 
that  were  paid,  both  among  the  ye-jos  and  Greeks,   on  entering  a  friend's 
houfe.     Thefe  friendly  cullomary  oifices  this  Pharifee  had  nes;le£ted. 
A'JTAj  iTc-i  Kii7iv  Ts  Kcti  iyjiSiv  Kitt'  ihj.iui.     Oiyf.  K.  364.. 


O  4 


C  H  A  P. 


200 


'A 


CHAP.     VIII. 
FTER    this 


twelve  diiciples,  took  a  tour 
thro'  the  towns  and  villages 
in  thole  parts — proclaiming 
where-ever  he  came  the  joy- 
ful news  of  the  fpeedy  erec- 
tion of  the  kingdom  of  God. 

2  The  following  women 
alfo  now  acco.npanied  him, 
whom  he  had  miraculoufly 
healed  of  dreadful  and  inve- 
terate difeafes —  Mary  Mag- 
dalene, whom  he  had  cured 
of  raging  madnefs ; 

3  Joanna,  the  lady  of  Chu- 
za  king  Herod's  fteward,  Su- 
fanna — and  many  other  wo- 
men befides,  who  all  fupport- 
ed  him  by  their  generous  and 
charitable  contributions. 
f"§ — 4  There  being  about 
this  time  an  immenfe  con- 
courfe  of  people  from  all  the 
neighbouring  towns  collefted 
together,  headdrefled  to  them 
the  following  parable. —  ^' 

5  An  hufbandman  went 
out  to  low  his  grounds — and 
fcattering  his  feed  in  every 
diredion  around  him,  fome 
chanced  to  fall  upon  the 
hard  beaten  path,  where  the 
birds,  impelled  by  hunger, 
foon  picked  it  all  up. " 

6  Others  fell  upon  rocks 
(lightly  covered  with  a  thin 
furface  of  foil  — -—  into 
which  being  admitted,  it  in- 


T^he  Hiflory  of  Jesus        Chap.  viii. 

Hantly  fprung  up  and  as  in- 
ftantly  withered  —  being  en- 
tirely deftitute  of  mcifi;ure  to 
fupply  and  invigorate  it.^^ 

7  Some  fell  aiDong  weeds 
which  fliootinc/  their  tall 


Jefus, 


luxuriant  tops  above  it  choak- 
ed  and  killed  it. 

8  Others  fell  upon  good 
foil — in  whofe  genial  bofo.n 
being  foflered  and  nourifheJ, 
it  bleffed  .  tiie  hufbandman) 
with  a  rich  and  copious  m- 
creafe — At  the  conclufion  of 
this  apologue  he  exskcd  his 
voice  and  faid,  Let  every 
one  whom  God  hath  endow- 
ed with  underfbanding  and 
reaf:)n  cultivate  and  improve 
thofe  powers  in  the  diligent 
ftudy  of  truth  and  wifdom., 

9  His  difcip'es  afterwards 
coming  to  him,  in  private  beg- 


ged 


he  would   give  tlie  ex- 


plication of  the  fable  he  had 
jufu  recited. 

lo  He  faid  to  them ' 

Your  virtuous  difpofitions 
entitle  you  to  an  unreferved 
acquaintance  with  the  pecu- 
liar truths  and  difcoveries  of 
the  gofpel  dii'penfatlon  —  but 
the  prejudices  of  the  mixed 
multitude  oblige  me  to  throw 
over  naked  truth  the  veil  of 
fiftion — for  the  moral  difpo- 
fitions of  the  prefent  age  are 
fuch,  that  tho'  they  fee  the 
moft  fignal  miracles  they  are 
not  convinced  -,  and  the'  they 
hear  well-attefted  accounts  of 

the 


Chap.  vili.  by   L 

the  exertion  of  fupernatural 
power,  they  give  thefe  re- 
ports no  credit. 

1 1  He  then  gave  them  the 
following  explanation  —  By 
the  feed  is  denoted  the  in- 
ftru6lions  of  the  golpel. 

12  By  the  feed  that  fell 
on  the  hard  beaten  path  are 
reprefentedthofe  whofe  hearts 
are  rendered  callous  and  in- 
fenfible  by  prejudio^  and  vice 
—  and  whofe  irregular  and 
predominant  paflions  deftroy 
all  the  good  inflrudions,  that 
can  be  imparted  to  them. 

1 3  By  the  feed  that  fell  on 
the  rocks  fiightly  covered 
with  foil  are  intended  thofe, 
who  with  tranfport  embrace 
the  doftrines  of  the  gofpel, 
as  loon  as  propofed  to  them 
— but  beinp  deftitutc  of  that 
native  goodnefs  of  heart  mto 
which  its  principles  may  ftrike 
root,  their  conviftions  are  but 
tem.porary  —  fo  that  when 
the  firfl:  perlecution  aifails 
them,  they  immediately  re- 
nounce ir  and  apoftatize. 

14  The  feed  that  fell  a- 
mong  thorns  indicates  thofe, 
who  admit  the  principles  of 
the  gofpel — but  worldly  anx- 
iety, the  luft  of  gold,  and  an 
ever-raging  palTion  for  fenfual 
pleafures  intercept  all  nou- 
rifhnicnt  from  it,  and  kill  it 
before  it  hath  attained  to  its 
maturity. 

1 5  The  feed  received  into 

2 


U  K   E. 


201 


good  ground  correfponds  to 
the  native  probity  and  genu- 
ine virtue  of  thofe,  who  hav- 
ing admitted  the  truths  of  the 
gofpel,  faithfully  retain  and 
cherifh  them  in  a  good  heart, 
and  by  afTiduous  culture  ad- 
vance them  to  the  highefi; 
degree  of  improvement  and 
perfedlion. 

16  He  moreover   faid    to 

them  The    knov/ledge 

I  communicate  to  you  in  pri- 
vate, do  you  freely  impart 
to  others  in  public  —  for  a 
lamp  is  not  lighted  with  a 
defign  to  Ihut  it  up  in  a  vefiel, 
or  to  hide  it  under  a  bed  — 
but  in  order  to  be  fet  on  fome 
confpicuous  place,  that  its 
ufeful  beams  may  be  diffufed 
around. 

1 7  Let  the  important  truths, 
therefore,  in  which  I  inftrud: 
you  in  fecret,  be  openly  pro- 
mulgated, and  let  the  world 
profit  from  thofe  ufeful  in- 
ilruftions  which  have  been 
diftated  to  you  in  filence  and 
folitude. 

18  Be  careful,  therefore,  to 
attend  with  diligence  to  the 
lellbns  of  duty  I  deliver  to 
you  —  for  he  who  hath  by 
the  diligent  cultivation  of 
his  intelle6lual  powers  alrea- 
dy gained  any  meafures  of 
knowledge,  fhall  receive  a 
greater  and  nobler  acceffion 
to  his  prefent  fund  —  but  he 
who  fuffers  his  mind  to  ruft 

in 


202  The  Hiftory 

in  floth  and  indolence  will  in 
time  forfeit  thofe  very  im- 
provements which  he  may 
have  already  made. 

§ — 19  After  this,  as  he 
was  inilriifting  the  people, 
his  mother  and  his  brothers 
wanted  to  fpeak  to  him,  but 
could  not  gain  accefs  to  his 
perfon  by  realon  of  the  lur- 
rounding  multitude. 

20  A  perfon  \v'ho  perceiv- 
ed them  waiting  without,  faid 
to  him  —  Your  mother  and 
brothers  are  now  (landing  on 
the  outfide  of  the  crowd,  de- 
firous  to  fpeak  with  you. 

21  Upon  this  information 
he  turned  to  the  multitude 
and  faid  —  I  eileem  thofe  as 
my  neareft  and  dcareft  rela- 
tives, who  diligently  attend 
to  divine  inftruftion  and  con- 
ftahtly  obey  it. 

§ — 22  Some  time  after  this 
he  and  his  difciplcs  going  a- 


of  Jesus        Chap.  viii. 

board   a  veiTel,    he   ordered 
them  to  row  acrofs  the  lake. 

23  During  the  pafiage  he 
iunk  into  a  profound  ileep — 
in  the  mean  time  it  blew  a 
dreadful  ftorm  —  the  v/aves 
lafhed  over  ^  the  fides  of  the- 
veffel,  and  they  were  in  im- 
minent danger  of  being  loil '. 

24  In  this  frightful  crifis 
they  came  about  him  in  great 
terrour  and  waked  him,  cry- 
ing—  Sir  !  we  are  perifliing  ! 
we  are  all  perifhing !  —  He 
got  up  and  authoritatively 
commanded  the  winds  to  be 
filent,  and  the  billows  to 
ceale  their  roaring — Inftantly 
they  were  hiiflied  —  inftantly 
there  infued  a  perfeft  calm  *. 

25  He  then  faid  to  them, 
How  weak  is  the  confidence 
you  ftill  repofe  in  my  mira- 
culous power!  — But  this  a- 
mazing  fcene  ftruck  them 
with    inexpreffible    aftonilli- 


*  —  firs  [JL^ya.  kvixo.  ^aXets-ffiii  zv^vropoio 

If  ttiniAa'  I?  yao  t«  [/.a.\tTdc  yz  Kv/xcna   c?sA/.«.     //•  O.  381,01:0. 

'  Qi    en    KVf/.Ct    6«H    SP    PiU     'Zi.(XH?l 

Afit^poi'    VJOLl   Vi<fiUV    cLPiflOTfi'pii,    ))    ai    75     'TTcl.ffA 

A^v/i  virix.p\j^d-»'  otvifjioio  S'z  S'eivQ-  cttnnt 

£^itJ^IOTH'   TVlQov  yct^  V'Tt''  cy,   '^cLVtlJTOio   (pzfOVTetl'     II.  O.  624,  &C, 

*  Ka/  T07*  st£/t'    avtu©-   [xiv  i'jo.vffcLTc,  «J^s  yuf^wti 
Etajto  vmiu.m — Odyf.  E.  391. 

Eta£to  vmiy.tn,  KoiiJ-wui  /s  kvi^atu  S'a.ii/.uv.    Odyf.  M.  168. 

ment, 


Chap.  viii.  ^j/  L  u  k  e.  203 

ment,  and  they  looked  one  j  ruih  into  the  wild  and  imfre-' 
upon  another,  faying,  What  j  quented  deferts. 

30  Jefus   afked    him    his 
lied. 


ftupendous  power  do  we  here 
lee  exerted  !  "What  an  illuf- 
trious  and  divine  perlbnage 
is  this,  who  only  fpeaks,  and 
the  tempeftuous  winds  and 
agitated  feas  obey  his  fove- 
reign  mandate ! 

26  They  ibori  reached  the 
oppofite  fliore,  which  was  in 
the  region  of  Gadara,  and  di- 
rectly over-againfl  Galilee. 

27  Immediately  upon  his 
landing  he  was  met  by  a  man, 
who  was  formerly  an  inhabi- 
tant of  the  town,  but  had 
been  for  a  very  confiderable 
time  afflicted  with  raging 
madnefs  —  this  wretched  ob- 
jefl  lived  not  in  any  houfe, 
but  rambled  naked  among 
the  dreary  fepulchres  of  the 
dead. 

28  As  foon  as  he  fav/  Je- 
fus, he  ran  up  to  him,  and 
with  a  violent  and  frightful 
vociferation  cried  out,  O  Je- 
fus, fon  of  the  moll  high  God ! 
what  bufmefs  have  you  with 
me  !  Let  me  entreat  you  not 
to  aggravate  my  torments. 

29  This  unhappy  creature, 
.whom  Jefus  was  going  mira- 

culoufly  to  heal,  was  fre- 
quently agitated  with  fuch 
violent  fits  of  diftraftion, 
that  he  would  burft  the 
Itrongeft  bonds  and  fetters, 
in  which  he  was  confined,  and 
with  frantic   rage   and  fury 


name — my  name,  he  rep 
is  Legion — for  a  kgicn  of  dae- 
mons have  taken  pofieiTion  of 
me. 

3 1  The  madman  then  beg- 
ged that  he  would  not  pre- 
cipitate his  dsmons  into  the 
profound  abyfs. 

32  It  happened  that  there 
was,  at  fome  diftance,  a  large 
herd   of  fwine  feeding  on  a 

mountain — the  madman 

uttering  fuch  extravagant 
things  as  perfons  difordered. 
in  their  intellefts  always  do, 
earneftly  importuned  Jefus' 
that  the  djemons  which  v/ere 
in  him  might  enter  the  fwine 
—  Jefus  accordingly  fuiFered 
the  fwine  to  be  feized  with 
madnefs. 

33  Immediately  the  whole 
•herd    ruflied  forward  in  the 

wildeft  confufion  —  ran  with 
the  o;reateft  violence  down  a 
fteep  precipice — plunged  in- 
to the  lake — and  all  perifned 
in  the  waves. 

34  The  keepers,  who  were 
fpeftators  of  this  fcene,  fled 
with  the  utmoft  precipitation 
and  alarmed  the  town,  and 
country  around. 

2S  Struck  with  an  account 
fo  aftonifhing,  great  numbers 
foon  flocked  to  the  place  to 
convince  themfeives  of  the 
truth  of  thefe  facts  —  When 

this 


204 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus        Chap.  viii. 


this  concourfeof  people  caiTiC 
to  Jefus,  and  found  the  mad- 
man fitting  at  his  feet  in  tran- 
quillity and  compofure,  re- 
conciled to  the  ufe  of  cloaths, 
and  reilored  to  the  full  en- 
joyment of  his  intellectual 
powers  —  they  were  feized 
with  the  laft  terrour  and  a- 
rnazement. 

^^  Thofe  then  who  were 
prefent  gave  them  a  diftinct 
detail  of  the  whole  tranfaclion 
— how  the  herd  v/as  loft,  and 
how  the  diftrafted  perfon  was 
miraculoufiy  healed. 

37  Upon  this  the  people 
who  were  affembled  on  this 
occafiofi  from  every  part  of 
the  adjacent  region  of  Ga- 
dara,  were  feized  with  ex- 
treme terrour,  and  unani- 
moufly  entreated  him  to  leave 
their  country  —  at  their  unit- 
ed folicitation  he  went  aboard 
the  velTel,  defigning  to  re- 
pafs  the  lake. 

38  Here  the  perfon,  whom 
Jefus  had  lately  cured  of 
madnefs,  feeing  him  about  to 
depart,  began  to  follicit  him 
in  the  moft  carneft  terms, 
that  he  would  permit  him  to 
be  his  infeparable  companion 

—  But  Jefus  difmiffed  him, 
and  faid, 

39  Go  home,  and  report 
to  thy  relations  and  country- 
men the  great  bleffings  that 
God  hath  beftowed  upon  thee 

—  Upon  this    he    departed, 


and  publifhed  in  every  town 
and  place  where  he  came, 
what  a  monument  he  was  of 
the  miraculous  power  of  Je- 
fus ! 

40  On  his  arrival  on  the 
oppofice  fhore  a  vaft  multi- 
tude, who  all  ardently  wait- 
ed his  return,  faw  and  receiv- 
ed him  with  tranfport. 

41  Here  a  perlon  i^i  ^reat 
eminence,  called  Jairus,  the 
principal  ruler  of  the  fyna- 
gogue,  advanced  up  to  him, 
and  proftiating  himfelf  at  his 
tcet,  implored. him  to  go  with 
him  to  his  houfe, 

42  telling  him,  overwhelm- 
ed in  a  flood  of  grief,  that  his 
only  daughter,  who  vv'as  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  was  now 
in  the  agonies  of  death— — 
Jefus  immediately  went  along 
with  the  ruler — but  in  his 
way  was  greatly  embarrafled 
and  incommoded  by  the  fur- 
rounding  crowds. 

43  Among  whom  was  a 
woman  who  had  for  twelve 
years  been  greatly  afflidled 
with  a  flux  of  blood,  and 
had  fpent  all  her  fortune  in 
making  trial  of  various  phy- 
ficians,  but  could  not  receive 
any  benefit  from  all  the  dif- 
ferent remedies  they  had  prc- 
fcribed. 

44  This  perfon  fl:ole  fofcly 
behind  him,  and  unperceived 
by  any  one  touched  the  hem 
of  his  garment  —  That  very 

moment 


Chap.  viii. 


by   Luke. 


moment  the  blood  ceafed  to 
flow. 

45  Jefus  immediately  turn- 
ed round  and  afked,  who  it 
was  that  had  jufl  touched  him 
—  Thofe  who  were  around 
his  perfon  declaring  they  had 
not,  Peter  and  fome  others 
who  were  with  him  faid  to 
him.  How  is  it  poffible.  Sir, 
but  this  muft  happen,  when 
you  are  encircled  and  prefled 
on  every  fide  with  fuch  an 
immenfe  crowd. 

46  Jefus  faid.  Somebody 
hath  touched  me — for  I  am 
confcious  that  falutary  virtue 
hath  been  educed  from  my 
perfon. 

47  The  woman  feeing, 
that  flie  could  not  pafs  undif- 
covered,  came  up  to  him  ter- 
rified and  trembhng,  andpro- 
ftrating  herfelf  at  his  feet, 
told,  before  the  multitude, 
the  caufe  that  had  induced  her 
to  touch  him,  and  that  fiie 
was  inftantaneoufly  reftored 
to  perfect  health. 

48  Jefus  faid  to  her. 
Daughter,  remove  your  fears 

your  confidence  in  my 

power  hath  efi^efted  your  cure 
— Go  and  afiure  yourfelf  that 
your  difeafe  is  forever  expelled. 

49  During  this  tranfa6lion, 
as  he  was  fpeaking  thefe 
words,  a  meffcnger  was  dil- 
patched  to  the  ruler,  inform- 
ing him,    that  his  daughter 


205 
and 


had  breathed  her  laft, 
that  the  prophet  need  not 
trouble  himfelf  to  come  down 
to  the  houfe. 

50  When  Jefus  heard  this 
meflage  delivered,  he  faid  to 
the  ruler,  Difpel  your  forrows 
— repofe  an  unlhaken  confi- 
dence in  my  power,  and  Ihe 
Ihall  be  reilored  to  life. 

51  Entering  the  houfe  he 
fuffered  none  to  accompany 
him,  but  Peter,  James,  and 
John,  and  the  parents  of  the 
young  lady. 

52  Here  a  mournful  fcene 

prefented  itfelf all  in  the 

houfe  were  diflblved  in  tears, 
deploring  her  premature  and 
unhappy  death — Jefus  faid  to 
them,  put  an  end  to  thefe 
excefles  of  crrief  and  forrow 
— the  young  lady  is  not  dead, 
fhe  is  only  funk  into  a  pro- 
found fleep. 

53  For  thefe  words  the 
mourners  could  not  forbear 
exprelTing  by  their  looks  the 
contemptible  opinion  thry  had 
of  him  as  a  prophet — they  all 
knowing  very  well  that  fhe 
was  really  dead. 

54  He  then,  after  order- 
ing them  all  to  quit  the  room, 
took  the  dead  body  by  the 
hand,  and  with  a  loud  voice 
cried.  Young  lady  rife  \ 

55  That  moment  fhe  was 
reanimated — that  moment  fhe 
got  up He  then  ordered 

theni;, 


.2o6 


them,  as  a  convincing  proof 
that  file  was  rellored  to  perfe(5l 
health,  to  bring  her  vidluals. 
^6  So  amazing  a  ipefcacle 
feized  her  parents  with  the 
laft  aftonifhment — whom  he 
ftriflly  charged  not  on  any 
account  to  divulge  the  mi- 
racle. 

CHAP.    IX. 

1  A  BOUT  this  time  he 
•^^  called  his  twelve  dilci- 
ples  together  before  him  in 
a  body,  and  Iblemnly  inveft- 
cd  tiiem  all  with  a  power  to 
expel  madnefs  and  every  o- 
ther  obfiinate  difeafe. 

2  When  he  had  endowed 
them  with  fpiritual  gifts  and 
miraculous  powers,  he  fent 
them  out  to  publilh  the  joy- 
ful news  of  the  gofpel  dif- 
penfation,  and  to  confirm 
their  dodrines  by  miraculous 
cures. 

3  Before  he  difmifled  them 
he  faid.  Make  no  anxious 
provifion  for  your  journey, 
and  take  with  you  neither 
bread  or  money,  neither  two 
Hicks,  or  two  upper  gar- 
ments. 

4  Whatever  families  ad- 
mit you,  fhow  yourfelves 
content  and  fatisficd  with  the 
accommodations    you    meet 

with and  remove  not  to 

any  other  all   the  time   you 
ihy  in  the  place. 

5  Whatever  towns  refufe 


T/je  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Ghap.  ix. 

to  give  you  and  your  doc- 
trines a  favourable  reception, 
at  your  departure  raiie  up 
the  duft  under  your  feet  up- 
on theili,  for  a  public  tefti- 
niony  of  their  incredulity  and 
impenitence. 

6  With  thefe  inftrutflions 
they  departed,  and  travelled 
thro'  the  towns  and  villages, 
proclaiming  every  where  the 
joyful  news  of  the  fpeedy 
eredlion  of  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  healing  every  ma- 
lady to  which  the  human  bo- 
dy is  liable, 

§  —  7  When  Herod  the 
tetrarch  heard  of  all  the^mi- 
racles  he  performed,  the  fame 
of  which  was  now  univ^rfally 
celebrated — it  filled  his  breaft 
v/ith  painful  uncertainty  and 
perturbation,  becaufe  fome 
aiTerted  that  he  could  be  no 
other  than  John,  whom  pro- 
vidence had  railed  from  the 
dead. 

8  Others  again  perempto- 
rily averred  that  it  was  Elias, 
who  had  made  his  appearance 
— while  a  third  party  as  ftre- 
nuoufly  contended  that  he 
was  fome  other  of  the  antient 
prophets,  whom  God  had 
now  reflored  to  life. 

9  But  Herod  laid  —  I  be- 
headed John  —  but  who  is 
this  perfon  of  whom  I  hear 
thefe  llrange  accounts  ?  < — 
The  repeated  information  he 
received  of  his  amazing  mi- 
racles 


Chap.  ix.  hy 

racks  greatly  excited  the  k  in  g's 
curiofity,  andhedifcoveredan 
extreme  defire  to  fee  Jefus. 

§ — 10  The  apoftles  hav- 
ing  executed  the  commilTion 
he  gave  them  returned,  and 
gave  Jefus  a  particular  detail 
of  the  fuccefs  they  had  met 
with  —  He  then  took  them 
with  him,  and  privately  with- 
drew into  a  remote  folitude, 
at  a  confiderable  diilance  from 
a  town  called  Bethfaida. 

1 1  But  the  multitude  re- 
marking the  place  whither  he 
had  retired,  they  all  followed 
him,  and  colle6ling  together 
around  him  in  this  recefs,  he 
difcourfed  to  them  on  the  prin- 
ciples and  duties  of  the  gofpel 
— ^and  healed  all  who- labour- 
ed under  any  indifpofition. 

12  When  the  day  was  now 

■  far  advanced,  the  twelve  dif- 
ciplcs  came  to  him,  and  re- 
minded him  of  the  neceffity 
of  difmifiing  the  multitude 
— that  they  might  have  time 
to  reach  the  neareft  towns  and 
villages,  and  provide  them- 
felves  accommodations  —  for 
the  place  they  nov/  were  in 
was  an  uninhabited  defert. 

I  3  He  faid  to  them,  Fur- 

■  nifli  them  yonrfclves  with  re- 
frefhment  —  all  our  preferit 
ftock,  they  replied,  amounts 
only  to  five  loaves  and  tv/o 

■  fillies — unlefs  you  would  have 
us  go  and  buy  viduals  for 

•   this  immenfe  multitude. 


Luke. 


207 

14  For  their  number  a- 
mounted  to  about  five  thou- 
fand — He  then  ordered  his 
difciples  to  make  them  fit 
down  in  regular  companies- 
fifty  in  a  company. 

15  They  obeyed  his  in- 
jundions,  and  difpofed  all  the 
people  in  a  methodical  and 
uniform  arrangement. 

16  Jefus  then  took  the  five 
loaves  and  the  two  fifties,  and 
folemnly  looking  up  to  hea- 
ven, blefifcd  God  —  he  then 
delivered  thefe  to  his  difciples 
to  diftribute  anx)ng  the  mul- 
titude. 

1 7  And  by  his  miraculous 
multiplication  of  this  pittance 
all  this  numerous  aflembly 
were  entertained  with  a  plen- 
tiful repaft  —  fo  that  after  all 
were  fatisfied,  there  were 
collefted  fragments  fufficient 
to  fill  twelve  balkets. 

§ — 1 8  Some  time  after  this 
as  he  was  offering  up  his  de- 
votions, attended  only  by  his 

difciples he  afked  them, 

what  opinion  the  vulgar  en- 
tertained of  him. 

19  There  is  a  great  diver- 
fity  of  fentiments,  they  re- 
plied, concerning  you  —  for 
iome  atTert  that  you  are  John 
the  Baptiil  —  iome  that  you 
are  Elias  —  and  others  main- 
tain that  you  are  one  of  the 
antient  prophets  providen- 
tially raifed  to  life. 

20  He  interrogated  them 

what 


208 


what  conception  they  them-  * 
felves  had  formed  of  him  — 
Peter  replied,  We  believe  you 
to  be  the  great  Mefliah. 

2 1  Having  heard  this  de- 
claration, •  he  peremptorily 
charged  them  all  not  to  di- 
vulge it  to  the  world  : 

22  at  the  fame  time  afTur- 
ing  them  —  that  the  fon  of 
man  would  fhortly  be  in- 
volved in  the  moft  dreadful 
fufferings  — -  be  publickly  re- 
medied and  vilified  by  the  ma- 
giftrates,  the  high-priefts,  and 
the  whole  body  of  the  clergy 
—  that  they  would  fhed  his 
blood — But  on  the  third  day 
he  fliould  be  railed  to  life. 

23  He  then  fiid  to  them 
all — If  any  one  is  defirous  to 
approve  himfelf  as  my  true 
and  genuine  difciple,  let  him 
deny  himfelf  every  fenfual  and 
Jinful  gratification — and  with 
deliberate  fortitude  and  com- 
poliire  chearfully  fubmit  to 
that  feriest)f  forrows  and  per- 
fecutions,  which  I  have  fuf- 
tained  before  him. 

24  For  that  perfon  that 
choofes  to  fave  his  life  by 
mean  and  criminal  complian- 
ces, fliall  be  for  ever  depriv- 
ed of  it  —  but  he  who  lofes 
his  life  for  his  inviolable  at- 
tachment to  mycaufe,  ihall  re- 
gain it  with  infinite  advan- 
tage. 

25  And  what  would  the 
acquifition  of  all  the  riches 


'The  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap,  ijc* 

and  grandeur  of  the  world 
fignify  to  him  who  ihould 
forfeit  life,  and  incur  the  e- 


verlafting  lofs    of    his   exif- 
tence ! 

26  Whoever  therefore  is 
afhamed  of  me,  and  publickly 
abjures  my  religion,  may  af- 
fure  himfelf,  that  the  fon  of 
man  will  publickly  renounce 
and  reje6t  him  in  that  folemn 
day,  when  he  fhall  defcend 
to  judge  the  world,  veiled 
with  the  matchlefs  glory  of 
his  fupreme  Father,  and  at- 
tended by  a  moft  fplendid  re- 
tinue of  angels. 

27  Be  alfured  alfo  of  this 
as  a  moft  certain  truth.  That 
there  are  fome  perfons  now 
before  me  who  fliall  live  to 
fee  the  eredion  of  the  gofpel 
kingdom. 

§ — 28  About  a  week  after 
this,  he  took  Peter,  James, 
and  John — and  afcended  with 
them  to  the  fummit  of  a  lofty 
and  fequcftered  mountain  to 
pour  out  his  pious  adora- 
tions to  God ! 

29  But  behold  !  as  he  was 
engaged  in  his  devotional  ex- 
ercifes  —  his  perfon  iuddenly 
underwent  a  furprifing  alte- 
ration— and  his  cloaths  emit- 
ted a  white  and  dazzling  ef- 
fulo;ence. 

30  After  this  two  perfons 
in  moft  glorious  and  refplen- 
dent  forms,  who  were  Mofes 

and 


Chap.  ix. 


h  L 


and  Elias,  appeared  —  and 
entered  into  a  conference 
with  him. 

3 1  The  .  fubjedl  of  their 
converfation  was — the  fufFer- 
ings  he  was  to  fuftain,  and 
the  exit  he  would  ihortly 
make  at  Jerufalem. 

32  Peter  and  his  two  com- 
panions however,  before  the 
perfon  of  Jefus  was  thus  me- 
tamorphofed,  had  "funk  into 
a  profound  ileep  —  but  upon 
their  awaking  they  were  pre- 
fented  with  the  amazing  fpec- 
tacle  of  the  glorious  fplen- 
dour  that  furrounded  him — 

,  and  faw  the  two  prophets 
engaged  in  converfation  with 
him. 

33  When  thefe  two  illuf- 
trious  fpirits  feparated  from 
Jefus — Peter  faid  to  him,  O 
Sir,  what  a  delegable  refi- 
dence  might  we  fix  here  !  — 
Permit  us  to  erect  three  tents, 
one  for  you,  another  for  Mo- 
fes,  a  third  for  Elias  —  He 
knew  not  what  he  faid  —  for 
the  amazing  fcene  had  fuf- 
p  ended  all  his  faculties. 

34  While  he  was  fpeaking 
this,  a  bright  luminous  cloud 
advanced  and  fixed  itfelf  di- 
reftly  over  them  —  The  dif- 
ciples  feeing  the  two  prophets 
received  up  into  this  cloud, 


U    K   E,  209 

were  ftruck  with  folemn  awe 
and  terrour. 

35  At  the  fame  time  an 
articulate  voice  iffued  out  of 
it — This  is  my  fon  ! — the  ob- 
je6t  of  my  fondeft  affe6lions 
—  Attend  and  obey  his  in- 
ftruftions ! 

0,6  When  thefe  folemn 
words  were  pronounced  Je- 
fus was  ftanding  alone — This 
fingular  tranfaftion  the  dif- 
ciples  kept  a  profound  lecret 
— and  according  to  the  ilridt 
injundion  of  Jefus  acquaint- 
ed no  one  at  that  time  with, 
the  glorious  fcene  that  had 
been  exhibited  before  them. 

§  —  37  Descending  the 
next  day  from  the  mountain, 
they  were  met  by  a  numerous 
concourfe  of  people. 

38  Among  whom  a  perfon 
accoiled  him  in  a  loud  voice 
and  faid,  Divine  teacher !  I 
befeech  you  have  companion 
upon  my  fon,  for  he  is  mine 
only  child. 

39  He  is  in  a  mofl  fliock- 
ing  and  deplorable  condition 
— for  he  is  fubjedi  to  terrible 
fits,  in  which  he  roars  in  a 
mofl  frightful  manner  —  is 
dreadfully  convulfcd,  and 
foams  at  the  mouth — in  thefe 
he  lies   a   confiderable  time, 

the    moil 


fuffering 


racking 


"  The  verb  being  in  the  pl«perfe<fl  tenfe  —  and  the  next  member  of  the 
vcrle,  indicate  that  Ileep  had  overcome  them  before  die  commencement  of 
the  amazin«r  fcene. 


Vol.  I. 


and 


2 1  o  T^he  Hiftory  o/'  J  e  s  u  s  Chap,  ix^ 

and    moft    horrible  agonies 
40  This  unhappy  creature 


I  brought  to  your  dilciples, 
imploring  their  afiiltance  — 
but  they  could  not  reheve 
him. 

41  Upon  this  Jefus  broke 
out  into  the  following  excla- 
mation, O  incfedulous  and 
pervcrfe  age  !  how  long  fliall 
I  be  a  witnefs  of  your  infide- 
lity !  How  long  fliall  I  bear 
vour  incorrigible  obitinacy — 
He  then  ordered  the  parent 
to  bring  his  fon  to  him. 

42  But  in  his  way  he  was 
feized  with  a  fit — in  which  he 
lay  convulfcd  in  an  horrible 
manner- — Jefus  then  by  his 
authoritative  voice  inftantly 
expelled  the  dileafe  — -  and 
prefented  him  to  his  father, 

43  Ail  prefcnc  wore  leized 
with  aftonifhment  and  awe  at 
feeing  the  power  of  God  ex- 
erted in  fo  amazing  and  fig- 
nal  a  manner — But,  while  all 
were  engaged  in  devoutly  ex- 
preiTing  their  wonder  and  fur- 
prize,  Jefus  turned  to  his  dif- 
ciples  and  laid, 

44  Suflcr  all  the  things  of 
which  you  have  been  witnefles 
to  make  a  ftrong  and  indelible 
imprefilon  upon  your  minds 
—  for  the  Ion  of  man  will 
fhortly  be  delivered  into  the 
power  of  his  implacable  ad- 
verfarics. 

45  But  they  undcrftood 
not  his  meaning  —  their  pre- 


judices prevented  them  from 
underftanding  it — they  were 
afraid  however«to  defire  him 
to  be  more  particular. 

§ — 46  I'he  difciples  about 
this  time  had  been  engao-cd 
in  a  warm  debate,  Which  of 
them  Ihould  be  elevated  to  the 
higheft  and  molt  diftinguirti- 
ed  poft  under  their  mailer, 
when  he  fhould  eftabliib  his 
kingdom.  vontjTbni 

47  But  Jefus,  knowing  the 
fecret  purpofes  they  harbour- 
ed in  their  breads,  took  a 
little  child,  and  placed  it  be-^ 
fore  him.  "' 

48  He  then  faid  to  them, 
He  that  looks  upon  this  child 
as  an  emblem  of  a  true  Chrii- 
tian,  clearly  comprehends  the 
fpirit  and  genius  of  the  gof- 
pel,  and  underftands  the  im- 
portant end  which  my  Father 
lent  me  into  the  v/orld  to  pro- 
mote— 'For  whoever  among 
you  (loops  to  the  humblejl 
offices  fhall  be  exalted  to  the 
higheji  honours. 

49  John  faid  to  him,  Sir!" 
we  lately  met  with  a  man, 
who  made  ufe  of  your  name 
in  efft:6linor  miraculous  cures 
— we  therefore  ftriftly  forbad 
him  for  the  future  to  take 
luch  freedom,  as  he  is  not  a 
member  of  our  fociety. 

50  By  no  means  hinder 
his  ufefulnefs,  replied  Jefus 
For  amongll  the  pre- 
judices of  the  prefent  age,  we 

have 


Chap.  ix.  by    L 

have  realbn  to  regard  every 
one  as  a  friend  to  us  who  doth 
not  oppofe  us.. 

§  —  51  The  period  of  his 
public  miniftry  being  now  al- 
moft  completed,  and  the  time 
fixed  for  his  afcenfion  to  hea- 
ven approaching — he  openly 
declared  his  intention  of  go- 
ing up  to  the  capital. 

52  Accordingly  he  fent 
meflengers  before,  to  provide 
the  neceflary  accommodati- 
ons for  him  on  the  road  — 
Thefe  entered  a  village  be- 
longing to  the  Samaritans, 
intending  to  prepare  what 
was  proper  againft  his  com- 
ing. 

c^^  But  the  inhabitants  pe- 
remptorily refufed  him  ad- 
milTion  —  merely  becaufe  his 
defign  apparently  was  to  wor- 
fhip  at  Jerufalem. 

54  Two  of  his  difciples, 
James  and  John,  being  fired 
with  indignation  at  this  treat- 
,ment  of  him,  faid  to  him, 
Sir  !  will  you  give  us  leave 
to  deftroy  thefe  inhofpitable 
wretches  with  fire  from  hea- 
ven ''j  as  Elias  did  his  ene- 
mies. 


U   K   E. 


2.1  I 


55  But  he  turned  and  fe- 
verely  reproved  them,  fnying. 
You  know  not  what  difpo- 
fition  the  gofpel  defigns  all 
its  profeflbrs  to  cultivate  ! 

^^  For  the  fon  of  man  did 
not  defcend  from  heaven  and 
affume  human  nature  to  de- 
vote men  to  deftrudion,  but 
to  refcue  them  from  it. 

§ — P)^  As  they  were  tra- 
velling, a  perfon  dazzled  with 
the  hopes  of  gaining  prefer- 
ment in  his  kingdom,  ad- 
vanced up  to  him  and  faid. 
Sir,  1  am  determined  to  be 
your  conftant  and  infeparable 
companion,  wherever  you  go. 

58  To  this  fpeech  Jeilis 
replied.  You  egregioufly  err, 
if  you  imagine  I  am  going  to 
eftablifh  an  earthly  kingdom- 
of  grandeur  and  magnificence 
—  fo  far  from  this  that  the  ^r 
bcafl:s  of  the  field  and  the 
fowls  of  the  air  are  accom- 
modated with  better  and  hap- 
pier conveniences  than  the 
Ion  of  man. 

59  To  another  Jefus  faid. 
Adhere  to  my  religion,  and 
rcfolve  to  be  my  true  and 
faithful  follower  —  The  m,an 


^  It  is  very  probable  that  from  this  incident  he  denominated  them 
Boanerges,  UJP''  'Jl  they^w  of  thunder  and  tempeft.  See  Univerlal  Hill. 
Vol.  X.  p.  547,   8vo. 

y  There  is  a  fine  paflage  fimilar  to  this  in  a  fpeech  o?  Tiberius  Gracchus 
recorded  hy  Plutarch.     Tol  fj.iv  9»p/<«  t*  thi'  ItaXi^.^-  viutiAivx,   ko.   ^;'- 

^s  Q'jS'-;'Q-  IMTi^iy,  AhK    aoiKOl  Kcrt   rt.vKf'ovTn- — -rXefC'vrvt, 

Plutarch.  Edit.  Stephaii.  Svo.  p.  T518. 

P  2  replied. 


212 


replied,  I  am  determined  to 
do  lb  —  only  for  the  prefent 
permit  me  to  ^o  home  firft, 
and  attend  the  funeral  of  my 
deceafed  father. 

60  Jefus  faid  to  him,  Let 
thofe  who  are  dead  to  all  fenll^ 
of  religion  and  virtue  diftratl 
themfelves  v/ith  fordid  cares 
. —  but  do  you  inviolably  de- 
vote yourfelves  to  ftudy  and 
promulgate  the  doftrines  of 
the  gofpel. 

61  A  third  faid,  I  have 
formed  deliberate  refolutions 
to  attach  myfelf  infeparably 
to  your  caufe  —  only  at  pre- 
fent allow  me  to  go  and  take 
leave  of  my  friends,  and  fet- 
tle my  domeltic  affairs. 

62  Jefus  faid  to  him,  I 
deem  every  peribn  abfolutcly 
unfit  to  fupport  and  propa- 
gate my  religion,  who  hav- 
ing once  ftrenuoufly  engaged 
in  it,  fuffers  himfelf  to  be  di- 
verted from  it  by  earthly  pur- 
fuits  and  fecular  concerns. 

CHAP.   X. 

I  AFTER  this  he  felefted 
^l\  from  among  his  fol- 
lowers feventy  other  difciples 
—  whom  he  prcvioufly  de- 
puted two  and  two  together 
to  every  town  nnd  village, 
which  he  himfelf  intended  to 

vifit in  order  that  they 

might  prepare  the  minds  of 


7^/je  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  x. 

men  for  the  reception  of  his 
do6trine. 

2   To   thefe  he  o-ave   the 


following  folemn  charge  be- 


fore he  difmified  them- 
Hov/  copious  is  the  harveft ! 
but  alas  how  few  the  labour- 
ers ! — Do  you  earneftly  pray 
therefore  to  the  Creator  of 
immortal  fouls,  that  he  would 
of  his  infinite  mercy  raifc  and 
qualify  a  number  of  fit  per- 
fons  to  reap  fo  great  and  glo- 
rious an  harveft ! 

3  By  fending  you  abroad 
to  preach  the  gofpel,  I  am 
fenfible  I  expole  you  to  the 
ra"-e  and  cruelty  of  an  im- 
moral and  depraved  world — 
confider  yourlelves  therefore 
as  lambs  in  the  midil  of 
wolves. 

4  Be  not  folicitous  to  make 
any  preparations  for  your 
journey  —  nor  fufter  any  offi- 
cious ceremonies  and  mere 
external  forms  of  civility  to 
detain  you  a  moment  on  the 
road. 

5  On  your  firfl  entrance 
into  any  family  greet  it  in  the 
moll  friendly  terms,  and  wi(h 
it  every  divine  and  human 
felicity. 

6  And  if  the  mailer  of  it 
be  a  perfon  of  real  worth  and 
viraie,  the  bleffings  you  im- 
plore fliall  defcend  upon  him 
—  if  not  —  the  bleflings  you 
have  iupplicated  the  Almigh- 

tv 


Ghap.  X.  by   Tu 

ty  to  beftow  upon  that  fami- 
ly lliall  be  imparted  to  you. 

7  The  virtuous  and  good 
will  receive  you  into  their 
families,  and  fupply  you 
with  the  neceflaries  and  con- 
veniences of  life — to  this  fup- 
port  the  faithful  difcharge  of 
your  duty  will  entitle  you  — 
Continue  in  that  family,  that 
gives  you  a  kind  reception, 
all  the  time  you  ftay  in  the 
place,  and  remove  not  from 
one  family  to  another,  that 
the  world  may  not  fufped 
your  moderation  and  tempe- 
rance. 

8  In  every  town  that  re- 
ceives you  Ihew  yourfelves 
pleafed  with  the  viftuals  and 
accommodations  that  are  pro- 
vided for  you. 

^>'    9  Heal  all  the  indifpofed 

"J^hat  are  in  it,  and  folemnly 
-'proclaim  to  all  its  inhabitants 

3ithe   fpeedy  eftablifhment  of 

oathe  gofpel  kingdom. 

9n,'  lo  If  any  town  refufe  you 
the    rites  of  ho]'pitality    and 

^^jpejeft  your   inftru6tions — go 

-ffinto   the  ftreets,    and   make 
i'this  public  declaration  : 

xiiifr  1 1  The  duft  of  your  town 
we  fhake  off  from  under  our 
feet   upon  you,  as  a  public 

ij^iteftimony  to  you  all  of  your 

■  wilful  impenitence  —  Be  al- 
lured however  that  the  king- 
dom of  God  will  very  ihortly 
be  erefted. 

12  I  folemnly  declare  to 


U  K  E.  213 

you,  that  in  the  general  judg- 
ment much  lels  fevere  pu- 
nilhrnent  will  be  infli6ted  on 
Sodom  than  on  that  town. 

13  Woe  unto  you,  O  ye 
inhabitants  of  Chorazin  and 
Bethfai-da!  Had  fuch  flrik- 
ing  proofs  of  miraculous 
power  and  divine  authority 
been  difplaycd  before  the  ci- 
tizens of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
they  would  have  deemed  the 
evidences  irrefiftible,  and  re- 
pented with  the  lincereft  con- 
trition and  remorfe. 

14  The  inhabitants  there- 
fore of  Tyre  and  Sidon  fhall 
be  finally  doomed  to  punifh- 
ments  Ids  dreadful  and  fe- 
vere than  what  you  ihall  be 
devoted  to. 

15  And  thou,  O  Caper- 
naum, who  hail  now  by  thy 
power  and  opulence  mount- 
ed to  fo  high  an  elevation, 
fhalt  then  be  precipitated  into 
the  loweft  gulph  of  deftruc- 
tion  and  mifery. 

1 6  Every  one  who  receives 
you,  in  effeft  receives  me — 
he  who  rejedts  your  inftruc- 
tions,  rcjedls  mine — and  he 
who  difobeys  niine  admoni- 
tions, diiobeys  the  admoni- 
tions of  God,  who  originally 
delegated  and  fent  me  into 
the  world. 

§  —  17  The  feventy  after 

having   fulfilled   their   com- 

miflion  returned  to  Jefus  in 

an  ecftacy  of  joy,  and  laid, 

P  3  Sir, 


214 

Sir,  by  the  powers  with  which 
you  invefted  us  the  dasmons 
were  fubjecfled  to  our  con- 
troul. 

1 8  He  faid  to  them,  ^  Sa- 
tan now  no  longer  reigns 
triumphant  -—  he  is  now  de- 
poled  and  fallen  from  that 
high  elevation,  which  he  hath 
(o  long  occupied. 

19  Behold!  I  endow  you 
with  power  to  vanquifh  your 
inoft  fell  and  implacable  ad- 
verfaries "  —  and  all  their  de- 
termined rage  and  rancour 
fhall  not  be  able  to  injure 
you  or  your  caufe, 

20  Be  not  however  elated 
with  fuch  joy  on  account  of 
the  obilinate  and  incurable 
difeafes    you    have   expelled 

• but  rather  indulge  the 

higheft  tranfports  that  your 
names  are  enrolled  in  the  re- 
giller  of  heaven.        ,,,^_'  , 

§ — 2 1  At  that  time  Jefus 
in  pious  exultation  poured 
forth  his  grateful  acknow- 
ledgments to  heaven  in  the 
following  language — I  thank 
thee,  O  thou  great  parent  of 
univerfal  nature,  that  thou 
haft  hid  the  evidences  of  the 
gofpel  from  thoi'e  who  value 
tiiem-felves  upon  their  fupe- 


Tije  Hiilory  of  Jesus  Chap  J  x. 


rior  wifdom  and  erudition, 
but  hall;  exhibited  them  hi 
their  full  power  and  energy 
before  humble  and  ingenuous 
minds  —  This  procedure,  O 
fupreme  Father  of  all,  was 
in  confequence  of  that  plan 
which  thine  infinite  wifdom 
and  goodnefs  originally  form- 
ed —  He  then  turned  to  his 
difciphs  and  faid, 

2  2  God  hath  delegated  mc 
to  reveal  his  will  to  mankind 
—  and  there  is  no  being  fo 
well  acquainted  with  the  il- 
luftrious  dignity  and  office 
with  which  1  am  invefted,  as 
my  Father — nor  is  there  any 
intelligent  being  favoured 
with  fo  clear  and  fublime  a 
perception  of  the  nature  and 
perfections  of  the  Deity,  as 
the  fon,  and  as  all  will  enter- 
tain, who  receive  the  Chril- 
tian  revelation. 

23  He  then  add  re  fled  him- 
felf  to  his  difciples  and  faid 
to  them  in  private,  Diltin- 
guilhed  is  your  happinefs  in 
being  the  ipeftator.s  of  thefc 
fingular  tranfadtions ! 

24  For  be  aflured,  that 
great  numbers  of  renowned 
princes,  and  illuftrious  pro- 
phets have  ardently  wiflied  to 


*  By  Siita/i  is,  figuratively,  meant  Jupiter,   ?nd  the  falfe  abfurd  Deities 
oT  the   I'crilen  tKec  lopv.     This  paf^ige  is  a  preididlion  of  our  Lord,  ex- 
•jire.Ted'iii  the  ufual  fublime  prrphctlc  llile,  that  the  pagan  eftablifhment 
worild  beovettuineJ  by  CnnlUanity. 
,    '•.itie-uieaii^..,  the.^igptctd  advocate?  of  rfie  J^zi;//^  z\\^  Heathen  fuper- 

fee 


Chap.  X.  ly   L 

^ee  the  fa6ls  that  you  every 
day  behold,  and  to  hear  thofe 
inftru6lions  which  are  com- 
municated to  you,  but  this 
fignal  happinels,  which  you 
enjoy,  was  denied  them  ! 
,  ,§- —  25  A  Jewifh  clergy- 
man Hood  up,  and  intend- 
ing to  make  trial  of  his  abi- 
lities and  knowledge,  faid  to 
him — What  courie  of  practice 
iliall  I  purfue  in  order  to  ob- 
tain eternal  happinefs  ? 

26  Jefus  faid  to  him.  What 
doth  the  law  enjoin  upon  this 
fubjea  ? 

2  7  He  replied  —  It  incul- 
cates upon  us  the  neceffity 
of  loving  God  with  a  moll 
pure,  intenfe  and  unaliena- 
ble affeftion — It  alfo  enjoins 
us  to  cultivate  the  moft 
benevolent  difpofitions  to- 
wards our  neighbour. 

28  Jefus  faid  to  him.  The 
anfvver  you  have  returned  is 

jl9,  juit  one--— ^conform  your 
^Jife   to   thefe   precepts,    and 
^^ou  will  obtain  a  blelTed  im- 
.^mortality. 

29  But  being  defirous   to, 
fecurehimfelf  from  errourand 
to  knov/  the  exa6l  limits  of 

'his  duty,  he  refumed  the  dif- 

'.courfe,  and  faid  to  Jefus 

Cut  who,  Sir,    is  my  neigh- 
bour ? 

30  Jefus  replied — A  Jew 
being  on  a  journey  from  Je- 
rufalem  to  Jericho,  had  the 
nu-ifortune  to  fall  in  with  a 


b 


U   K  E.  215 

gang  of  highwaymen,  who 
robbed  him — ftripped  him  of 
every  thing  he  had — beat  him 

unmercifully and  left  him 

for  dead  in  the  road. 

31  A  prielt  happening  to 
travel  that  way  faw  him  ly- 
ing in  that  deplorable  condi- 
tion—but turned  his  horfe 
to  the  other  fide  of  the  road 
and  went  on — 

32  A  Levite  too  coming 
to  the  place  viewed  him  for 
fome  time,  as  he  lay  covered 
with   wounds  and  blood- 
but  rode  by. 

33  But  a  Samaritan  travel- 
ling that  road,  when  he  came 
up  to  him,  and  faw  him  wal- 
lowing in  blood,  and  fcnfe- 
lefs  —  this  ihocking  fped:acle 
immediately  awakened  all  his 
fenfibility  and  tendernefs. 

34  He   inftantly   flew  to 

him raifed  him  from  the 

ground — drefled  his  wounds 
— and  with  the  moft  officious 
care  and  concern  bound  them 
up — He  then  took  him  in  his 
arms,  and  placing  him  on  his 
own  beaft,  fupported  him  on 
it  till  he  reached  the  inn— ■ 
where  he  ftill  continued  to 
fhew  him  the  fame  benevo- 
lence and  compalTion. 

35  In  the  morning  before 
his  departure,  he  called  his 
hoft,  and  giving  him  two  de- 
narii, faid  to  him — Let  me 
ftrongly  recommend  to  you 
the  care  of  that  unfortunate 

P  4         creature 


21 6  T^hc  Hiflory 

creature — any  farther  expence 
that  you  may  be  at  on  his  ac- 
count, I  will  not  fail  mofi 
chearfuliy  to  -defray  on  my 
return. 

36  Now  which  of  thefe 
three  do  you  think  was  neigh- 
bour to  the  man  who  was 
thus  barbaroufly  treated  by 
robbers  ? 

37  Undoubtedly,  faid  he, 
the  perfon  who  gave  him  fuch 
benevolent  alTiiiance — Jefus 
faid  to  him,  Go  and  a6l  in 
the  fame  manner. 

§ — 38  Being  on  a  jour- 
ney  and   entering    a    certain 

villaGje a  woman  named 

Martha '"  fent  him  an  invita- 
tion to  her  houfe. 

39  He  accepting  it,  her 
jfiftcr  Mary  fat  down  at  his 
feet — liftcning  to  the  inftruc- 
tions  he.  delivered  with  the 
moft  eager  and  enraptured 
attention. 

40  Martha,  in  the  mean 
time  being  embarraffed  in 
providing  an  entertainment, 
came  to  Jefus  and  faid,  Sir, 
by  miy  filter's  attendance  up- 
on you,  the  whole  buiinefs 
of  the  houfe  hath  devolved 
upon  me — order  her  to  airift 
me  in  the  neceflary  duties  of 
the  family. 

41  Jefus  faid  to  her,  Mar- 
tha !  you  are  now  perplexing 


^  Jesus  Chap.  xI. 

and  diftreffing  yourfelf  in  pro- 
viding a  grand  and  fum.ptu- 
ous  entertain  menu, 

42  when  a  fimple  and  mo- 
derate repaft  is  entirely  fuf- 
ficienc Your  fiftcr,  there- 
fore, is  better  employed,  and 
hath  made  that  wife  and  pru- 
dent choice,  the  happy  ef- 
fe6ts  of  which  will  be  for 
ever  durable  and  permanent. 

CHAP.   XI. 

I  A  S  he  w^as  offering  up 
■^^  his  devotions  in  a  cer- 
tain place,  one  of  his  difci- 
ples  greatly  affeded  with  the 
fervency  of  his  prayers,  faid 
to  him,  after  he  had  conclud- 
ed. Sir,  pleafe  to  give  us  fome 
inftrudtions  concerning  prayer 
—  fince  John  taught  his  dif- 
ciples  in  what  manner  to  dif- 
charge  this  important  duty. 

2  He  faid  to  them,  in  your 
prayers  conform  to  the  fol- 
lowing model — O  thou  great 
governour  and  parent  of  uni- 
verfal  nature,  whomanifefteil 
thy  glory  to  the  bleffed  in- 
habitants of  heaven — may  all 
thy  rational  creatures  in  all 
the  parts  of  thy  boundlefs  do- 
minion be  happy  in  the  know- 
ledge of  thy  exiftcnce  and  pro- 
vidence, and  celebrate  thy 
perfeftions  in  a  manner  moll 


>  This  name  occurs  in /'.''.v.'«r<r,6's  Mariuf,  p.  758.  Edit.  Stephan.  8vo. 
Grsce. 

worthy 


chap.  xL  hy    L 

worthy  thy  nature,  and  per- 
fedlive  of  their  own  !  —May 
the  glory  of  thy  moral  go- 
vernment be  advanced,  and 
the  great  laws  of  it  be  more 
generally  obeyed  —  May  the 
.inhabitants  of  this  world  pay 
as  chearful  a  fubmilTion  and 
as  conftant  an  obedience  to 
thy  will,  as  the  happy  fpirits 
do  in  the  regions  of  immor- 
tality. 

3  As  thou  haft  hitherto  moft 
mercifully  fuppliedour  wants, 
deny  us  not  the  necelTaries  and 
conveniencies  of  life,  while 
thou  art  pleafed  to  continue 
us  in  it. 

4  Pardon  the  numerous 
fins  that  we  have  been  guilty 
of  towards  thee — as  we  freely 
forgive  and  erafe  from  our 
hearts  the  injuries  that  our 
fellow  creatures  have  done  to 
us — and  fuffer  no  temptation 
to  ailault  us  too  powerful  for 
the  frailty  of  our  natures  and 
the  imperfeftion  of  our  vir- 
tue— but  in  all  our  trials  may 
thine  almighty  aid  interpole 
and  refcue  us  from  vice  and 
ruin. 

5  After  he  had  delivered 
this  form  he  faid  to  them — 
one  of  you  hath  a  friend — he 
runs  to  him  in  a  great  hurry 

at  midnight awakes  him, 

and   fupplicates  him   in  the 


u  K  E.  217 

following  importunate  man- 
ner— Do  my  friend  lend  mc 
three  loaves. 

6  For  a  perfon  for  whom 
I  have  the  s;reateft  regard  be- 
ing  on  a  journey  into  this 
country  %  hath  rode  a  long 
way  out  of  his  road  merely  to 
fee  me — and  I  have  nothing 
at  all  in  the  houfe  to  fet  be- 
fore him. 

7  To  thefe  earneft  folicita- 
tions  the  churl  within  doors 
mutters — Why  do  you  difturb 
me  at  this  unfeafonable  hour 

the  door  is  locked  and 

boltfed — my  children  are  with 
me  in  bed — I  cannot  rife  and 
give  you  what  you  want. 

8  This  perlon  however, 
tho*  pofieflfed  of  fuch  a  furly 
and  brutal  difpofition,  tho* 
the  common  obligations  of 
friendfhip  cannot  excite  him 
to  this  benevolent  office,  will 
yet  fuffer  himfelf  at  laft  to  be 
prevailed  upon  by  the  dint  of 
importunity  and  folicitation. 

9  In  the  fame  fervent  man- 
ner do  you  offer  your  petiti- 
ons to  God  and  he  will  gra- 
cioufly  beftow  them  —  with 
the  fame  earneftnefs  and  fer- 
vour do  you  approach  tlic 
throne  of  divine  mercy,  and 
you  fhall  not  be  repulled. 

10  For  the  fervent  prayers 
of  every  good  perfon  to  the 


c  This  is  the  meaning  of  the  original,  and  greatly  heightens  the  beauty 
pf  the  Ilory, 

Father 


2r8 


The  Hiilory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xi,. 


-Father  of  wikiom  and  good- 
nefs  to  fupply  his  wants  and 
to  flrengthcn  his  imperfeft 
virtue,   will  not  be  rejed:ed. 

1 1  Learn  from  parental 
tendernefs  the  indulgent  dif- 
pofition  of  the  fupreme  Fa- 
ther towards  his  rational  ofF- 
fpring-^For  is  there  any  man, 
however  abandoned  and  bru- 
tal, who  when  his  child  cries 
iox  bread,  will  give  him  a 
ftone — or  a  Terpen t,  when  he 
defires  a  fifh  ? 

J 2  or  v/hen  he  requefts  of 
liim  an  egg,  will  he  put  into 
his  hands  a  fcorpion  ? 

1 3  If  therefore  parents  of  the 
worft  charafters  give  to  their 
children  what  is  proper  and 
ufeful  for  them — how  much 
more  will  the  benign  and 
eompaflionate  Father  of  all 
impart  divine  aiTiftance  to  his 
fuppHcants  ! 

§  —  14  About  this  time 
there  was  brought  to  him  a 
dumb  idiot,  whom  he  inftant- 
ly  reftored  to  his  intelledis 
and  Ipeech  —  This  fpeftacle 
llruck  the  multitude  with  ex- 
treme aftonillmient. 

15  But  fome  who  were  pre- 
fent  faid.  This  perfon  only 
eje^ls  daemons  in  confcquence 
of  a  confederacy  with  Beel- 
zebub their  infernal  prince. 

16  While  others,  not  con- . 
vinced  by  thcfe  exertions  off 


miraculous  power,  requefted 
him  to  Ihcvv  them  fome  grand 
luminous. pha^nomenon  m  the 
fl<:y,  as  a  proof  of  liis  divme 
authority  and  milTion. 

17  But  he  being  perfe6lly 
acquainted  with  their  malici- 
ous thoughts  and  unfurmount- 
able  prejudices  againft  him, 
turned  to  them  and  thus  ad^ 
drelled  them  —  You  afcribe 
my  miracles  to  a  compa6t 
with  Beelzebub  —  but  confi- 
der,  that  every  kingdom  torr» 
by  internal  divifions  is  quick- 
ly reduced  to  a  ftate  of  the 
moft  deplorable  defolation 
and  ruin — and  every  family 
full  of  dilcord  and  mutual 
animofity  cannot  flourifh. 

1 8  Now  if  Satan  empower 
any  one  to  expel  thofe  de- 
mons which  he  himfelf  in- 
jects, he  mufl  foment  difien- 
tions  in  his  own  kingdom — 
and  confequently  mud  con- 
fent  to  its  weaknefs  and  de- 
molition. 

19  Befides,  if  I  ejei5l  dae- 
mons by  a  confederacy  with 
Beelzebub  —  by  whole  aiTif- 
tance do  your  relations  ex- 
pel them as  to  any  real 

league  or  compad  that  they 
have  with  infernal  fpirits  I 
refer  you  to  their  determi- 
nation and  judgment  ^ 

20  But  if  1  exterminate 
daemons,  and  heal  the  moft 


^  Sec  note  on   Math.  xii.  27. 


obftinate 


Chap.  XI. 


hy   L 


obftinate  and  incurable  dif- 
orders  by  a  power  communi- 
cated to  me  by  the  Deity — 
it' ■follows  that  I  am  autho- 
rized by  God  to  eftablifh  his 
kingdom  and  promote  the 
interefts  of  his  moral  govern- 
itient. 

21  The  furniture  and  for- 
i:iint  of  a  ftrong  man  remain 
in  fafety,  while  he  guards 
thern  in  a  compleat  iuit  of 
amiour,  and  hath  no  foe  to 
•cjDpofe  him,  but  who  is  pof- 
feffed  of  inferiour  ftrength. 
■■''  22  But  when  a  perfon  of 
'llTperiour  might  attacks  and 
vanquilhes  him,  he  ftrips  him 
of  that  ftrong  armour  in  which 

he  confided ■  pillages  his 

houle,  and  carries  off  the 
fpoils  in  victorious  triumph 
—  So  the  power  with  which 
I  am  endowed  to  expel  dae- 
mons proves  me  poflelTed  of 
force  fuperiour  to  theirs. 
'23  So  far  therefore  am  I 
from  being  an  accomplice 
with  Satan,  as  you  infinuate 
^■i^  that  Satan  difclaiming  all 
cbhne<5lions  with  me,  oppofes 
me  with  implacable  malice 
-^  and  is  fo  far  from  being 
my  auxiliary,  that  he  caufcs 
the  greateft  mifchiefs  in  or- 
der to  counteradt  my  de- 
figns  ^ 

24  When  an  impure  fpirit 
is  ejcfted  out  of  a  man,  it 


U   K   E.  219 

roams  over  dreary  and  inhof- 
pitable  waftes,  in  queft  of  re- 
pofe,  but  fatally  difappointed 
— Tired  with  devious  wan- 
dering, and  filled  with  de- 
fpondency,  it  forms  a  rcfo- 
lution,  at  all  adventures,  to 
return  to  its  old  refidence  : 

25  But  behold  !  on  its  ap- 
proach it  finds  it  furnilhed 
with  every  elegance  for  its 
reception.  ■^^'   '^-^'^ 

16  Tranfported  with  tills 
unexpected  happinefs,  it  ran- 
ges in  fearch  of  its  compa- 
nions, and  takes  a  number 
of  demons  of  greater  ma- 
lignity and  ferocity  than  it- 
felf —  and  they  all  take  pof- 
fefllon,  and  render  the  lad 
condition  of  that  man  infi- 
nitely more  wretched  and  de- 
plorable than  it  was  before  *". 

§ — -2  7  As  he  was  engaged 
in  this  difcourfe,  a  woman 
cried  out  in  an  ecftafy  of  ad- 
miration and  wonder  —  Blef- 
fed  is  the  woman,  who  brought 
thee  into  the  world  ! 

28  He  replied.  You  ought 
rather  to  have  laid,  BlelTed 
are  thofe  who  attentively  hear 
and  obey  the  word  of  God. 

§ — 29  A  VAST  concourfe 
of  people  being  at  this  tim>e 
colle6led  around  him,  he  faid. 
How  abandoned  and  perverfe 
is  the  prefent  age  !  Not  con- 
vinced by  the  miracles  I  per- 


«  Sfe  note  on  Matth.  xii.  30. 


f  See  note  on  Matth.  xii.  45. 
form, 


22a 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  xi. 


form,  they  require  me,  for 
their  convittion,  to  dilplay 
before  them  fome  grand  re- 
fplendent  prodigy  in  the  air 
—  but  as  they  have  refilled 
all  the  other  firiking  telli- 
monies  I  have  hitherto  pro- 
duced, no  miraculous  pro- 
digy fhall  be  farther  indulged 
to  them,  except  one  that  will 
be  fimilar  to  what  tx;fel  the 
prophet  Jonah. 

30  For  as  the  miraculous 
reftoration  of  Jonah  after  he 
had  been  ingulphed  in  the  a- 
byfs  and  enclofed  in  the  bel- 
ly of  a  fifh  three  days,  was  a 
proof  to  the  Ninevites  that 
he  was  invefted  with  a  divine 
commifTion — ^Ib  a  like  fignal 
proof  (hall  the  fon  of  man 
exhibit  to  the  prefent  gene- 
ration.-^ 

31  The  condufl:  of  the 
queen  of  Arabia  will  at  the 
general  judgment  evince  to 
the  whole  affembled  world 
that  the  condemnation  of 
the  prefent  race  will  be  juft 
for  fhe  felt  fuch  emo- 
tions at  the  report  of  Solo- 
mon's celebrated  wifdom, 
that  fhe  haftened  with  impa- 
tient fteps  to  Jerufalem — tho' 
fituated  at  a  great   diftance 

from  her  own  dominions 

But  the  prefent  generation 
treat  a  perlbn  of  fuperiour 
wifdom  and  eminence  to  So- 
lomon with  the  laft  contempt. 

32  The  behaviour  of  the 


inhabitants  of  Nineve  fhows 
the  condu61:  of  the  prefent 
age  to  be  ablolutely  inexcufa- 

ble For  tho'  Jonah  only 

gave  them  verbal  admonitions, 
attended  with  no  miracles  — 
yet  they  repented  in  deep  and 
fincere  contrition — But  this 
age  rcjeCls  a  perfon  endowed 
with  infinitely  greater  autho- 
rity and  fuperiour  dignity. 

33  A  lamp  is  not  lighted 
in  order  to  be  concealed  — 
but  is  placed  on  fomeconfpi- 
cuous  eminence,  that  all  the 
houfe  may  enjoy  its  ufeful 
beams. 

34  Reafon  is  to  the  foul 
what  the  lamp  is  in  darknefs 
— if  thy  reafon  be  therefore 
preferved  (Irong  and  clear,  it 
will  illuminate  all  thy  moral 
difpofitions  —  But  if  the  eye 
of  reafon  be  fuffufed  with  pre- 
judice, or  injured  by  vice,  all 
thine  intelleftual  powers  will 
be  loft  in  the  fhades  of  errour. 

35  Be  careful  therefore  left 
thou  wilfully  obi'cure  thy  rea- 
fon— for  thy  whole  mind  will 
then  be  involved  in  moft  de- 
plorable darknefs. 

'^6  But  if  thou  carefully 
p refer ve  thy  reafon  clear  from 
the  mifts  of  prejudice  and  paf- 
fion,  it  will  throw  the  moft 
pure  and  falutary  light  over 
all  thy  mental  powers. 

§ — 37  As  he  was  thus  in- 
ftrucTting  the  people,  a  Pha- 
rifee  invited  him  to  dine  with 

him 


Chap.  xi.  by  L 

him — He  accepted  the  invi- 
tation and  fat  down  to  dinner. 

38  But  the  Pharilee  was 
amazed,  that  he  had  not  vvalh- 
€d,  before  he  fat  down  at  the 
table. 

39  Jelus  faid  to  him — You 
Pharifees  are  extremely  care- 
;ful  in  decorating  and  adorn- 
ing the  exterior  part  — — 
while  the  interior  is  deform- 
ed and  polluted  with  ava- 
rice, opprefTion,  and  other 
enormous  vices. 

.r.  •  40  Abfurd  and  prepofter- 
t)us  condudt !    Did    not   the 
great  Being,    who  made  the 
external  form,  create  the  in- 
ternal intelledual  powers  — 
and  will  he  not  be  more  fo- 
licitpus  for  the  purity  of  the 
mind,    than    for   the   Ihowy 
elegance  of  the  body  ? 
,,  41  The  only  v/ay  to  fecure 
■your  minds  from  all  moral 
impurity  and  pollution  is,  to 
do  good  with  the  wealth  you 
have    accumulated,   and    to 
contribute  to  the  relief  of  the 
ifl^digent  and  neceflitous. 
42  But   O   ye  Pharifees ! 
dreadful  will  be  your  future 
mifery  !  —  for  you  are  moft 
religioufly  fcrupulous  in  per- 
forming all  the  little  niceties 
of  the   ceremonial  law,  and 
with  a  moft  pundiilious  ex- 
aftnefs  mark  the  titheof  mint, 
rue,  and  other  herbs  —  but 
entirely  difregard  the  impor- 
tant duties  of  equity  and  the 


U  K  E.  221 

love  of  God T!hefe  you 

ought  to  have  made  the  great 
fundamental  rules  of  your 
condutl,  at  the  fame  time 
that  you  omitted  not  the  ce- 
remonial injundions, 

43  Woe  unto  you,  O  ye 
Pharifees !  for  it  is  merely  to 
gratify  your  pride  and  often- 
tation,  that  you  ftrive  fo  ve- 
hemently to  fecure  the  moft 
diftinguiftied  places  in  all  re- 
ligious aflemblies — and  to  be 
complimented  in  all  places  of 
public  relbrt  with  the  pom- 
pous titles  of  Dodor  and 
Rabbi  1 

44  Woe  unto  you,  O  ye 
hypocritical  Scribes  and  Pha- 
rifees !  Your  vile  hypocrify  is 
concealed  from  the  eye  of  the 

world like    fome  fecret 

graves,  full  of  loathfomc  pu- 
trefadion  and  horror,  over 
which  men  walk  without  per- 
ceiving them,  or  being  able 
to  diftinguifli  from  the  com- 
mon path. 

45  An  expounder  of  tfac 
law  being  prefent,  when  Je- 
fus  uttered  thcfe  jv.ft  invec- 
tives, interrupted  him,  and 
faid.  Sir  !  in  fatyrizing  the 
vices  of  the  age  you  include 
us,  and  reproach  and  infult 
our  order. 

46  Jelus  replied.  Dread- 
ful beyond  defcription,  O  ye 
expofitors  of  the  law,  will  be 
your  future  condemnation  — 
for  you  opprefs  men  with  an 

intolerable 


2i2 

Intolerable  burden  of  fevere 
and  tedious  obfervances — but 
will  not  in.  your  own  pradlice 
conform  to  any  of  thole  ft  rid 
and  rigid  prefcriptions,  which 
you  impofe  upon  others. 

47  Great  will  be  your  fu- 
ture mifery  !  —  for  you  build 
and  lavifh  every  embellilh- 
ment  on  the  tombs  of  thofc 
very  prophets,  in  whofe  blood 
your  anceflors  embrued  their 
hands. 

48  By  the  elegance  you  la- 
vifh upon  thefe  monuments, 
you  give  a  public  glaring  tef- 
timony,  that  you  are  the  de- 
fcendents  of  thofe  murderers 
■*—  whofe  alTafTinations  you 
alfo  vindicate  and  juftify  in 
the  face  of  the  world,  by 
building  fuch  magnificent 
ftruftures  for  thofe,  whofe 
blood  your  progenitors  fpil- 
led. 

49  To  reclaina  them,  faid 
God,  from  their  vices,  I  will 
fend    among   them   prophets 

and  apoftles but  fome  of 

thefe  they  will  perfecute,  fome 
they  will  murder. 

50  So  that  upon  this  very 
oreneration  all  the  blood  that 
hath  been  flied  from  the  be- 
cinnino;  of  the  world  to  the 
prefenttimefhallbe  revenged, 

51  from  Abel,  down  to 
Zacharias,  whom  you  cruelly 
afTafTinatcd  between  the  tem- 
ple and  the   altar all  the 

blood,    I  repeat  it,    fhed  in 


T!he  Hiflory  c/'  J  E  s  u  s  Chap.  xii. 

this  long  fcries  of  years   fhall; 
be  revenged  on  this  very  ge-* 
neration. 
52  Shocking  beyond  idea^ 

0  ye  expounders  of  the  law, ' 
will  be  your  future  mifery  ! — 
for  you  contrive  every   me- 
thod  to   prevent    men   from 
embracing  chriflianity — ^You 
arc  determined  not  to  be  con- 
vinced by  its  evidences  your- 
felves,  and  do  every  thing  in .' 
your  power  to  prevent  per- .. 
fons  of  good  difpofitions  from  : 
being  convinced. 

§ — SZ  With  thefe  deferv- 
ed  cenfures  and  reproofs  the 
Pharifees    and   Scribes,    whO' 
were  prefent,  were  heinoully 

exafperated and   to   have 

their  revenge  on  him,  they 
began  to  propofe  to  him  fcve- 
ral  enfnaring  queftions, 

54  malicioufly  defigning  to 
circumvent  him  by  thefe  infi- 
dious  arts,  and  earneftly  long- 
ing to  pick  up  fome  exprefTi-  > 
ons    he   might   inadvertently  i. 
drop,  on  which   they   might  > 
ground  an  accufation  againft 
him. 

CHAP.    XIT. 

1  A  N  immenfe  and  infi- 
-^^  nite  multitude  of  peo- 
ple being  now  colleded  toge- 
ther, who  crowded  and  trod 
one  upon  another  in  a  tumul- 
tuous manner — he  addrefled 
the  following  difcourfe  to  his 
difciple: — Be  ever  cautious  of 

being 


Cliap.  xli.  hy   L 

being  infefted  with  hypocri- 
fy,  the  predominant  vice  of 
the  Pharifees,  which  like  lea- 
ven hath  fpread  and  diffuled 
itlelf  thro*  the  mafs  of  the 
Jewifh  nation. 

2  But  there  is  no  vice, 
which  they  take  fuch  pains  to 
fereen  from  the  eye  of  the 
world,  but  fhall  one  day  be 
brought  to  light — That  dark- 
nefs,  in  v/hich  they  wrap  their 
crimes,  will  one  day  be  dif- 
pelled,  and  all  their  enormi- 
ties be  unvailed. 

g  Let  me  therefore  folemn- 
ly  aflure  you.  That  what  you 
tranfa<5l  in  the  (hades  of  night 
fhall  be  publifhed  in  the  open 
face  of  day — what  you  v/hifper 
in  the  moft  obfcure  and  fecret 
recefs  fhall  be  proclaimed  be- 
fore the  ailembled  world ! 

4  Since  therefore  the  great 
day  of  retribution  is  approach- 
ing, accept,  my  dear  and 
faithful  companions,  the  fol- 
lowing admonitions  —  Fear 
not  thofe,  who  can  only  de- 
prive you  of  a  precarious  be- 
ing, but  whofe  power  ex- 
tends no  farther. 

5  I  will  fhew  you,  whom 
you  ought  to  fear-— Let  that 
great  Being,  be  the  fole  objeft 
of  your  fear,  who  can  involve 
both  foul  and  body  in  total 
and  everlafting  dellrudion — 
Let  that  great  Being,  I  re- 
peat it,  be  the  fole  objedl 
of  your  conftant  fear. 

4 


U  K  E. 


22 


6  For  if  the  meancft  and 
moil  inconfiderablc  creatures 
are  perpetually  under  the  in- 
fpedlion  of  God,  and  perifh 
not  without  his  cognifance — 
how  much  more  muft  divine 
providence  intereft  itfelf  in 
the  guardianfliip  and  protec- 
tion oi  rational  beings. 

7  God  is  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  all  your  mi- 
nuted: concerns,  and  the  very 
hairs  of  your  head  are  num- 
bered by  his  all-comprehen- 
five  wifdom — Fear  not  there- 
fore any  fufferings  and  per- 
fecutions  that  men  may  infli<5t 
upon  you — for  an  intelligent 
being  is  furely  more  entitled 
to  the  divine  care  and  re- 
gards, than  the  irrational  and 
inferior  creatures. 

8  Be  aflured  therefore,  that 
whoever,  notwithftanding  the 
rage  of  perfecutors  and  the 
profpeft  of  the  greateft  fuf- 
ferings, (hall  with  undaunt- 
ed fortitude  publickly  pro- 
fefs  his  belief  of  Chriftianity, 
(hall  be  publickly  acknow- 
ledged for  my  true  difciple 
before  the  angels  of  God,  and 
the  alTembled  world. 

9  But  whofoever  (hall  be 
terri(ied  into  a  recantation  of 
his  Chriftian  principles,  and 
openly  renounce  his  profef- 
fion — him  will  I  alfo  publick- 
ly rejefl  in  the  day  when  man- 
kind (hall  be  convened  before 
God's  tribunal. 

10  The 


224 

10  The  mod  opprobrious 
calumnies  againft  the  Ion  of 
man  fhall  be  forgiven  —  but 
lie  that  with  determined  and 
invincible  prejudice  iliail  blaf- 
phemoufly  alcribe  the  mira- 
culous operation  of  God  to 
the  power  and  energy  of  wick- 
ed infernal  fpirits,  precludes 
all  convidion,  and  lliall  ne- 
ver be  forgiven  here  or  here- 
after. 

1 1  But  when  you  are  drag- 
ged before  magift rates  and 
courts  of  judicature,  and  car- 
ried betoic  the  mofi  illuflri- 
ous  perfonages — be  not  anxi- 
ous in  ffudying  what  vindica- 
tion you  fhall  make  of  your 
principles  and  condu6l. 

12  For  that  God,  in  whofe 
caufe  you  are  engaged,  will 
enable  you  by  his  holy  fpirit, 
in  that  emergency,  to  apolo- 
gize for  yourfelves. 

§ — 13  As  he  was  difcour- 
fing,  a  perfon  in  the  crowd 
railed  his  voice  and  faid, 
Great  prophet !  I  defire  you 
would  admonifli  my  brother 
to  make  a  juit  and  equitable 
partition  of  the  paternal  e- 
itate,  that  hath  been  left  us. 

14  He  turned  to  him  and 
faid.  Friend  !  I  came  not  in- 
to the  world  to  intermeddle 
ia  the  civil  affairs  of  men,  or 


T^he  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap.  xll. 


to   adjufl:  their  fecular  pro- 
perty. 

15  From  this  incident  he 
took  occafion  to  addrefs  to 
the  multitude  the  following 
advice  —  Carefully  guard  a- 
gainfl:  conuafting  an  infati- 
able  paflion  tor  accumulating 
wealth — For  the  happincfs  of 
life  is  not  annexed  to  fuperior 
poffeffions. 

16  With  a  view  to  this 
fubjeft  he  recited  the  follow- 
ing fable  — — —  It  happened 
that  the  immenfe  ellates  of 
an  opulent  gentleman  one 
year  proved  uncommonly 
fertile,  and  yielded  him  an 
exceeding  rich  and  plentiful 
crop. 

17  His  heart  exulted  when 
he  viewed  the  waving  golden 
harveft — and  as  he  looked  o- 
ver  the  wide  extended  prof- 
pe6t,  he  faid  to  himfelf  ■ 
What  fhall  I  do  with  it  all ! 
— Where  fliall  I  repofit  it ! — 
I  have  no  place  capable  of 
containing;  half  this  immenfe 
crop ! 

18  After  fome  time  fpent 
in  anxious  deliberations,  he 
cried  out  in  a  fudden  tranf- 
port — I  am  determined  im- 
mediately to  pull  down  my 
barns — and  I  will  ereft  grand 
and  magnificent  ftorehoufes>> 


t  Sepulchri  immemor  ilruis  domos.    Hsrat. 


where 


chap.  xii.  hy    L  u  K  E. 

where  I  will  amafs  all  this  co- 
pious and  amazing  produce 
of  Iny  fields. 

19  When  I  have  piled  it 
all  up — I  will  then  fay  to  my 
foul — Happy  foul !  Difhin- 
goifhed  is  thy  felicity!  Thou 
haft  immenfe  treaiiires,  from 
which  thou  wilt  derive  pure 
and  permanent  blifs  for  a 
long,  long  fcries  of  many  dif- 

tant  happy  years Com.e, 

indulge  thy  foft  envied  repofe 
— feaft  on  the  moft  delicious 
viands — tafte  the  moftexqui- 

fite  liquors- -and  traverfe  a 

circle  of  every  amufement 
and 


joy. 

aoButwhilehe  was  brooding 
over  this  enchanting  profpedl 
and  fondly  anticipating  all  its 
happinefs — God  laid  to  him, 
O  thou  unthinking  mortal  ! 
this  very  night  the  lamp  of  thy 
vain  life  fhall  be  extinguidied 
- —  and  ^  what  advantage  to 
thee  will  then  all '  the  im- 
menfe treafures  be,  that  thou 
haft  accumulated  ^ ! 

21  Like  this  v/ealthy  {^\\- 
fualift  is  every  one,  whofe 
heart  is  folely  engroffed   by 


225 

riches,  and  totally  alienated 
from  God. 

2 2  Wherefore  I  charge  yoii 

addrefiing  himfelf  to  his 

difciples— to  fupprefs  all  im- 
moderate defires  of  earthly 
pleafures  and  indulgences,  and 
not  to  be  follicitous,  Hov/  you 
Oiall  gratify  your  appetites  ! 
What  repalls  will  give  you, 
the  moft  pl^afure  ! — and  what 
apparel  add  the  moft  elegance 
and  grace  to  your  perlon:! ! 

23  For  is  not  life  of  in- 
finitely greater  wcrdi  than  all 
the  refinements  of  luxury  — 
and  health  of  unfpcakably 
greater  value  than  the  moft 
fplcndid  robes  ? 

24  Contemplate  the  ravens 
— They  have  no  fields  to  fow, 
no  crops  to  reap,  no  barns  to 
fill  — yet  the  great  parent  of 
nature  regularly  fupplies  them 
with  food— and  ought  you, 
whom  God  hath  fo  highly  ex- 
alted in  the  fcale  of  being, 
to  debafe  the  fuperior  dignity 
of  your  nature  by  an  uneafy 
and  reftleis  anxiety  for  ani- 
mal and  fenfual  enjoyments  ? 

25  Can  any  man   by  the 


s  So  the  gresk  ought  to  have  been  rendered — <iijhofe  would  have  been 
CxpreiTedby  Xi\"^. 

"^  The  infcription  on  the  tomb  of  the  great  Cyrus,  which  Plutarch  In- 
forms us  Alexander  the  Great  ordered  to  be  tranllated  into  Greek,  was 
this  —  O  mortal !  whoever  thou  art,  know  that  1  am  Cyrus  who  founded 
the  Perjian  monarchy.  Do  not  therefore  envy  me  this  little  narrow  turf 
which  covers  my  body  !  Plut.  Alcxand.  p.  \z'6<^.  Steph. 

Quid  vici  profunt  aut,  horrea?  qaidve  Calabris 

Saltibus  adje^li  Lucani,  fi  metit  Orcus 

Grandia  cum  parvis  non  exorabilis  auro.    Herat. 

Vol.  I.  Q^  exertion 


226 


ne  Hiftory 


exertion  of  all  his  art  and  care 
prolong  the  period  of  human 
life  a  fingle  moment  ? 

26  Since  then  you  are  not 
able  to  add  the  Icall  point  of 
duration  to  the  limits  alTigned 
to  human  life  —  why  Oiould 
you  fuffer  yourfelves  to  brood 
over  an  uncertain  futurity 
with  fuch  painful  and  me- 
lancholy folicitude  ? 

27  Survey  v/ith  attention 
the  lillies  of  the  field,  and 
learn  from  them  how  prepo- 1 
fterous  it  is  for  beings  who 
are  endowed  with  rational 
natures  to  cherifh  a  felicitous 
paffion  for  drefs — Thefe  fuf- 
tain  no  labour,  thefe  employ 
no  cares  to  adorn  themfelves 
—  and  yet  are  cloathed  with 
fuch  inimitable  beauty,  as  So- 
lomon in  all  the  fplendour  of 
his  richeft  royal  robes  never 
equalled. 

28  Since  then  God  cloathes 
a  tranfient  and  fnort-lived 
flower  with  fuch  a  rich  and 
magnificent  drefs  —  ought 
you,  who  are  endowed  with 
fuch  fupcrior  dignity,  to  dif- 
truft  the  providence  of  God  ! 

29  Cherifh  not  therefore 
fuch  uneafy  thoughts  as  thefe, 
What  fliall  I  eat !  What  fhall 
I  drink !  What  fhall  1  wear ! 

30  Thefe  are  enquiries  that 
are  perpetually  corroding  the 


of  Jesus         Chap.  xii. 

minds  oiHeathens — but  ought 
not  to  prey  uponjcz^r  happi- 
nefs — fince  yourfupreme  and 
merciful  parent  knows  that 
you  require  the  common  blcf- 
fings  and  neceffaries  of  life, 
and  will  gracioufly  admini- 
fter  them. 

3 1  But  do  you  afpire  after 
nobler  enjoyments  and  pur- 
fuits  than  thefe — for  let  it  be 
your  principal  ftudy  and  con- 
cern to  approve  yourfelves 
as  the  obedient  and  virtuous 
i'ubjedts  of  God's  moral  king- 
dom   and  his  providence 

will  not  be  wanting  to  fupply 
you  with  the  other  inferior 
bleffmgs  that  refpedl  the  body. 

32  Do  not,  my  feled:  com*- 
panions,  defpair  of  God's  fup- 
plying  you  with  the  neceffa- 
ries of  this  fhort  and  tranfient 
life,  fince  his  infinite  good- 
nefs  hath  deflined  you  to  be 
the  fubje(5ls  of  his  celeflial 
kingdom. 

33  '  Hefitate  not  toexpofe 
to  lale  all  your  prefent  for- 
tunes, and  diflribute  the  mo- 
ney in  relieving  the  difbreffed 
and  indigent  —  by  this  bene- 
ficence you  will  acquire  a 
fund  that  will  never  be  ex- 
haufted  —  and  accumulate  a 
treafure,  which  no  thief  can 
approach,  which  no  moth  caa 
corrode. 


i  This  advice  relates  to  the  difciples  onlj ;  to  whom  this  difcourfe  was 
peculiarly  addreffed. 

34  It 


chap.  xii.  hy 

34  It  i^  of  the  greatcft  im- 
portance that  the  affeftions 
be  properly  placed — for  the 
mind  is  foon  governed  by  its 
predominant  paffions  —  and 
where  the  treafure  is,  there 
the  heart  is  centered. 

35  Be  careful  to  exercife  a 
conltant  unremitting  vigi- 
lance, and  be  ever  in  an  ha- 
bitual preparation  for  my  fu- 
ture coming. 

36  In  this  refpeft  imitate 
the  care  and  dihgence  of  faith- 
ful fervants — who  fit  up  thro' 
the  hours  of  night  with  inde- 
fatigable patience  and  incef- 
fant  attention  'till  their  maf- 
t€r  returns  from  the  nuptial 
Iblemnity,  and  open  the  door 
the  moment  he  knocks. 

37  Happy  fervants !  whom 
their  lord,  coming  at  fuch  an 
unfeafonable  hour,  finds  in 
fuch  a  vigilant  and  dutiful 
pofture ! — He  will  compen- 
sate fuch  diftinguifhed  fideli- 
ty with  a  diftinguifhed  re- 
ward. 

38  Thrice  happy  fervants-, 
whofe  eyes  not  the  midnight 
hour,  or  the  lateft  watches 
cf  the  nijrht  have  been  able 
to  feal  in  foft  and  indolent 
flumbers — but  who  are  ever 
vigilant  and  prepared  for  their 
matter's  reception. 

39  Had  any  mafter  of  a 
family  previous  information 
at  what  particular  hour  of  the 
niizht  his  houfe  would  be  at- 


L  U  K  E* 


227 

tempted,  he  would  certainly 
fit  up,  and  prevent  the  thieves 
from  breaking  in. 

40  With  the  fame  prudent 
vigilance  be  ye  alfo  ever  for-  . 
tilled ;  that  the  fudden  ad- 
vent of  the  fon  of  man  may 
not  furprife  you  funk  in  fu- 
pine  negligence  and  inconfi- 
deration. 

41  Here  Peter  interrupted 
him  and  laid.  Sir !  do  you 
intend  this  figurative  difcourfe 
for  the  benefit  of  the  multi- 
tude in  general,  or  only  of 
lis  in  particular  .^ 

42  Jefus  replied.  Every 
prudent  fervant  to  whom  his 
lord  hath  committed  the  care 
of  his  domeftic  afi^iirs  during 
his  abfence,  will  (liew  his  fi- 
delity in  punftually  executing 
his  commands. 

43  And  happy  will  fuch 
a  faithful  fervant  be  if  his 
mafter  at  his  arrival  finds  him 
diligently  employed  in  his 
duty. 

44  He  will  aflliredly  re*, 
ward  fuch  induftry  and  faith- 
fulneis  with  the  principal  di- 
reftion  of  all  his  fortunes. 

45  But  if  the  wicked  fer- ' 
vant  fufix^r  negligence  and 
careleflhefs  to  fteal  upon  him, 
and  indulge  the  fond  imao;i- 
nation,  that  his  lord  will  de- 
fer his  journey  home  for  ma- 
ny years — and  in  confequence 
of  thefe  luggeftions  begin  a 
courlc  of  pro.^igacy  and  riot 

Q__2  — abuie 


228 

— abvife  his  fellow- (laves  with 

the  moil  wanton  cruelty- 

and  run  into  all  the  excelTes 
of  debauchery  and  drunken- 
nefs  •, 

46  The  lord  of  that  fervant 
will  iuddenly  come  upon  him  at 
an  unexpeded  time,  and  lur- 
priie  him  in  the  midfl  of  thcfe 
icenes  of  irregularity  and  con- 
fufion — and  will  infiidt  upon 
him  the  moft  exquifite  tor- 
tures, dooming  him  to  the 
fanie  wretched  fate  with  the 
moft  depraved  and  abandon- 
ed infidels. 

47  But  that  fervant,  who 
heard  his  matter's  orders, 
and  perfeclly  knew  his  will 

but  wiUully  neglefted  to 

perform  it,  and  addiclcd  him- 
felf  to  habitual  indolence  and 
difobedience,  fliall  fuffer  the 
moft  rigorous  and  excruciat- 
ing torments. 

48  While  on  him,  who  was 
unacquainted  with  his  lord's 
plealure,  and  yet  acted  incon- 
fiftently  with  the  duties  of  his 
ftation,  a  milder  and  lefs  fevere 
punilhment  fhall  be  inflifted 
— For  as  accordingtothe  rules 
of  common  equity,  of  him,  to 
whom  much  was  entrufted, 
much  will  be  required — fo  in 
the  day  of  future  retribution, 
diftinguidied  imj^rovement 
will  be  expected  from  thole 
to  whom  God  hath  given  dif- 
tinguiflied  abilities. 

I — 49  My  coming  will  oc- 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus       Chap.  xll. 


cafion  the  fire  of  perfecution 
to  fpread  and  rage  in  the  moft 
dreadful  manner  among  man- 
kind— and  how  ardently  do 
I  wifti  that  the  flame  had  al- 
ready feized  me  its  firft  de- 
ftined  vitlim  I 

50  For  I  have  a  dreadful 
fcene  of  mifery  to  undergo, 
and  my  mind  will  ever  be 
greatly  opprefted  and  tortur- 
ed 'till  I  have  fuftained  it. 

51  Do  you  flatter  your- 
felves  with  thefanguine  hopes, 
that  I  fliall  fubdue  the  whole 
world — and  then  eftablilh  a 
lafting  univerfal  peace — no — 
my  coming  into  the  w^orld, 
will  produce  the  moft  impla- 
cable difcords  and  animofi- 
ties. 

52  For  no  fooncr  fhall  the 
gofpel  be  publifhed  in  the 
world,  but  in  a  family  con- 
fining of  five  perfons,  three 
of  them  will  be  at  irreconcile- 
able  variance  with  two — thefe 
latter  as  embittered  againft  the 
former. 

C)i  It  will  occafion  fuch 
dreadful  quarrels,  as  will  dif- 
folve  all  the  ties  of  natural 
afi'edion,  and  break  the  moft 
intimate  bonds  of  confangui- 
nity. 

§ — 54  He  then  addreffed 
himfelf  to  the  multitude  that 
ftood  around  him  and  faid — ■ 
When  you  fee  a  cloud  rife  in 
the  weft,  you  immediately 
fay,  A  fhower  is  forming  — * 

and 


Chap.  xiiL  by 

and  your  obfervation  is 
true. 

^c^  When  the  wind  alfo 
changes  to  the  fouth,  you 
lay,  We  lliall  now  have  lul- 
try  heat — and  your  prognol- 
tication  is  loon  verified. 

c^6  Hypocrites  !  and  are 
you  fo  expert  and  infailibie 
in  your  preiages  of  the  wea- 
ther —  and  yet  not  able  with 
the  greateft  precifion  anc! 
clearnels  to  difccrn  the  parti- 
cular marks  and  features  ot 
the  prefent  period  ? 

57  Why  do  you  not  freely 
permit  your  own  reafon  and 
underllanding,  in  acafefoper- 
fpicuous  and  evident,  to  direct 
you  to  what  is  juft  and  pro- 
per to  be  done  ? 

58  Strive  therefore  to  a- 
vert  from  you  the  divine  dif- 
pleafure,  before  it  overwhelm 
you,    by    fpeedy    repentance 

and  reformation  of  life for 

ifaperfon,  while  his  adver- 
fary  is  conJuifcing  him  before 
a  magiiirate,  is  too  proud  to 
endeavour  to  ibften  his  refent- 
menis  by  m.aking  every  con- 
celTion — and  is  too  obilinate 
to  appeafe  his  anger  by  leni- 
ty  and  condefcenlion he 

will  proceed  to  the  moft  un- 
happy extremities  : 

59  and  will  finally  involve 


Luke. 


229 

him  in  that  complicated  mi- 
fery  and  ruin,  which  by  an 
early  reconciliation  he  mio-ht 

iiave  prevented but  from 

which  he  will  not  be  able  to 
extricate  himfeif,  'till  lie  hath 
fully  glutted  his  revenge. 

CHAP.   XIIL 

I  COME  who  were  prefent 
^  on  this  occafion  told 
him  how  Pilate  had  maffacr- 
ed  a  number  of  Galilseans  as 
they  were  performing  a  fo- 
lemn  facrifice,  and  had  ming- 
led their  blood  in  one  com- 
mon ftream  with  the  blood  of 
their  viftims. 

2  Jefus  faid  to  them,  Do 
you  infer  from  this,  that  thefe 
perfons  were  more  abandoned 
and  wicked  than  others  of  the 
Galilseans,  becaufe  they  were 
afTadinated  in  this  fliocking 
manner  ? 

3  The  inference  is  unjuft 
—  and  let  me  add,  that  un- 
lefs  you  fpeedily  repent  and 
reform  your  lives,  you  will 
all  perifli  by  a  fimilar  de- 
flruilion  ^. 

4  Or  do  you  conclude  that 
thofe  eighteen  men,  on  whom 
the  tower  of  Siloam  fell,  and 
buried  them  in  its  ruins,  had 
been  guilty  of  more  heinous 


^  In  both  thefe  inftances,  and  in  the  parable  o^  x\\t  Jlg-trec,  he  refers  to 
the  deilrudlion  of  Jerufalem  by  Vefpajian  and  Titus. 


0.3 


and 


230  ^he  Hilliory 

and  atrocious  crimes  than 
all  the  reft  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Jfriifalem  ? 

5  The  conclufion  is  falfe 
— and  you  will  all,  let  me  fo- 
lemnly  repeat  it,  unlefs  you 
finc^rely  repent  and  amend 
your  lives,  be  overwhelmed 
in  fimilar  perdition. 

6  He  then  recited  the  fol- 
lowing fable< — A  Gentle- 
man had  planted  a  fig-tree  in 
a  good  fituation  and  in  an 
happy  foil — and  he  came  from 
time  to  time  expe6ting  to 
find  it  covered  with  fruit, 
but  was  always  difappointed. 

7  At  lall,  tired  with  long 
and  fruitlefs  expectation,  he 
called  the  gardener  and  faid, 
1  have  been  patiently  waiting 
now  thefe  three  years,  in 
hopes  that  tree  would  bear, 
and  have  been  always  fruf- 
rrated — cut  it  inftantly  down 


of  Jesus        Chap.  xiii. 

— it  is  only  a  nuifance  in  my 
garden. 

8  Ihe  gardener  Hiid,  Sir ! 
let  it  Hand  another  year —  I 
will  loofen  the  foil  about  it, 
and  lay  fome  frelh  manure  to 
its  roots. 

9  Perhaps  with  this  aflif- 
tance  it  may  bear — if  it  does 
not,  I  will  then  cut  it  down. 

§— 10  As  Jefus  was  on  the 
fabbath  inflrucling  the  peo- 
ple in  one  of  the  fynagogues, 

11  there  was  in  the  aflem- 
bly  a  woman,  who  had  been 
a  miferable  fpeftacle  for  eigh- 
t-^en  years— her  body  was 
bowed  double ',  without  her 
being  in  the  lead  abletoraife 
herfelf  upright. 

12  When  Jefus  perceived 
this  unhappy  objecl,  he  cal- 
led her  to  him  and  faid — You 
are  from  this  moment  freed 
from  your  miferable  condition^ 


'  She  is  faid,  in  Ver.  16,  to  have  been  thus  afflicled  by  5^/^;/.  Who?n 
Satan,  it  is  in  the  original,  had  tied  together.  The  body  of  a  perfon, 
who  went  double,  is  here  faid  to  be  thus  aifefled  by  the  devil.  From 
which  we  learn  that  any  thing,  which  aifedled  the  human  body  in  a  _////- 
gular  and  extraordinary  manner,  was  by  the  people  of  thofe  times  actri- 
buv^d  to  the  agency  of  dxmons.  The  heathens  talk  in  the  fame  man- 
i.er.  Macrobius  mentions  women  who  were  creAHiof  Ahtbj  7nooi:-jiruck,  and 
rf^m<.ii'oQKv\T>ic.  Diana-ftnick,  Saturn,  i.  17.  In  Plautus  we  meet  with 
Cerrita,  Cercs-JIruck,  one  whofe  mind  was  difordered  by  Ceres.  Amphit. 
/ii5t.  ii.  Sc.  ii.  144.  Edit.  Far.  1684.  And  there  is  a  very  remarkable 
paiHige  in  the  Odvjpy,  which  I  have  never  feen  quoted  on  this  fubjcft,  in 
which  flow  confuming  pains  are  attributed  to  the  influence  of  a  nialignant 
dreniOn.     Odyf.  E.  396. 

fi<   </*'    OTCLV   a.^ltctdl©-   ClOTiQ^    TatitiO-lTl   t^cinni 

llttTf©-,   oi  iv  laacp  y.inai  K^izi{  cthyiet  -rret^^cjv 


13  He 


Chap.  xiii.  by    L 

13  He  laid  his  hands  upon 
her — inilantly  fhe  flood  eredl 
— and  poured  forth  her  ardent 
gratitude  to  God  for  this  iig- 
nal  deliverance. 

14  The  ruler  of  the  fyna- 
gogue,  being  a  fpeftator  of 
this  tranfa6tion,  was  heinouf- 
ly  offended  that  Jefus  fhould 
thus  impioufly  prophane  the 
fabbath  by  performing  mira- 
culous cures — and  he  pub- 
lickly  reproved  the  people, 
faying.  There  are  fix  days, 
in  which  any  work  is  allow- 
ed to  be  tranfaited  —  come 
on  thefe,  and  have  your  in- 

difpofitions  removed but 

infringe    not  the  facred  du- 
ties of  the  flibbath. 

15  Jefus  turned  to  him 
and  faid  —  Thou  hypocrite  ! 
Doth  any  of  you  judge  it  a 
violation  of  the  fabbath  to 
loofe  his  cattle  from  the  flail, 
and  drive  them  to  water  ? 

16  And  ought  not  this 
daughter  of  Abraham,  who 
hath  been  confined  in  fuch  a 
milerable  and  unhappy  con- 
dition for  eighteen  years,  be 
releafed  from  it  on  the  fabbath? 

1 7  This  fpeech  filenced  his 
opponents,  and  covered  them 
with  confufion — But  the  mul- 
titude, who  had  been  wit- 
nefles  of  fuch  amazing  exer- 
tions of  divine  power,  were 


u  K  E.  23! 

tranfported  with  religious  o-ra- 
titude  aud  exultation. 

§  —  18  He  then  faid  by 
what  fimilitude  fliall  I  repre- 
fent  the  gofpel  difpenfation  ? 

19  It  is  like  a  fingle  grain 
of  muflard  feed,  which  a  man 
fjws  in  his  garden  —  which 
imperceptibly  grows  larger 
and  larger,  'till  at  lafl  it  be- 
comes one  of  the  mofl  flately 

of  the  vegetable  tribes 

and  fhoots  out  fuch  luxuriant 
branches  as  afford  flielter 
and  lodging  to  the  fowls  of 
heaven. 

20  He  again  faid.  What 
doth  the  gofpel  difpenfation 
refemble  ! 

2 1  It  may  be  compared  to 
leaven,  which  a  woman  mix- 
ed among  a  very  confiderable 
quantity  of  dough,  'till  the 
whole  mafs  was  fermented. 

§  —  22  Jesus  continued 
his  journey  towards  Jerufa- 
lem  —  inflruding  the  people 
in  all  the  towns  and  villages 
he  pafled  thro*. 

23  A  perfon  now  faid  to 
him.  Sir !  will  there  be  but 
an  inconfiderable  number  of 
thofe  who  will  be  finally  fav- 
ed  .''-—He  turned  and  faid  to 
the  furrounding  multitude, 

24  Strenuoufly  exert  all 
your  endeavours,  to  gain  ad- 
miffion  within  the   narrow  ^ 


""  He  calls  it  narrow,  bccaufe  the  yeu-^s  of  that  age,  concerning  whom 
only  he  here  fpeaks,  being  almoft  univerfally  abandoned,  and  rejedting 
ail  the  evidences  o£  the  goipel,  would  be  excluded  from  happinefs. 


Q 


gate 


232  T^he  Hiflory 

gate  of  eternal  life  —  Thou- 
lands,  when  the  period  of  their 
trial  is  over,  will  importu- 
nately beg  to  be  acimitted  — 
but  ihall  be  forever  repuHed. 

25  When  the  mailer  of  the 
houfe  hath  fliut  and  locked 
the  door,  and  you  approach 
it  and  knock,  beao-ingr  \\\  the 
moft  moving  and  fuppiicant 
terms  foradmifiion — »he  will 
call  out  to  you  and  afl<:  you, 
"Who  you  are  that  folicit  for 
permifiion  to  enter  his  houfe 
at  fuch  an  unleafonable  hour  ? 

26  You  will  then  fay,  We 
are  perfons,  Sir,  who  have 
frequently  been  happy  in 
your  converfation  on  earth, 
and  have  often  heard  you  de- 
liver, in  our  refpe6tive  towns, 
your  divine  and  heavenly  dif- 
courfes. 

27  He  will  then  reply, 
Notwithftanding  what  you 
aflert,  I  do  not  know  you  — 
you  have  enjoyed  fingular  ad- 
vantages, but  have  mifim- 
proved  them — You  finful  and 
abandoned  creatures  depart ! 

28  You  will  be  transfixed 
with  the  acuteft  mifery  and 
anguifli,  when  you  fee  Abra- 
ham, Ifaac  and  Jacob,  and  all 
the  eminent  and  illuftrious 
prophets,  enjoying  the  pleni- 
tude of  celeftial  blelTcdnefs — 
and  find  yourfelves  for  ever 
excluded  from  thofe  happy 
fe^ts ! 


of  Jesus      Chap.,Kiii. 

29  For  numbers  of  good 
men  of  every  nation,  and  in 
the  moil  diftant  regions  Ihall 
there  be  all  collected,  and 
form  one  valt  and  happy  fo- 
ciety. 

30  But  thofe,  to  whom  the 
means  of  fecuring  this  happi- 
nefs  were  laft  offered  fhall  be 
the  Jirji  in  embracing  them — 
and  thofe  to  whom  they  were 
Jirji  propofcd,  fliall  be  the 
lajl:  to  admit  them. 

§ — 31  SoiME  Pharifeesthat 
day  came  to  him,  and  advif- 
ed  him  to  quit  thofe  parts 
with  the  utmoft  precipitation 
— telling  him  that  Flerod  in- 
tended to  apprehend,  and  put 
him  to  death. 

32  Go  and  tell  that  fox, 
he  replied,  that  I  fliall  per- 
form miraculous  cures  in  his 
dominions  for  the  three  next 
enfuing  days. 

33  And  I  know  that  I  fhall 
perform  them  in  fafety  and 
fecurity-^ — -^for  it  cannot  be 
that  a  prophet  be  murdered 
any  where  out  of  the  pre-' 
cinfts  of  Jerufalem. 

34  O  Jerufalem  !  Jerufa- 
lem !  Thou  who  haft  murder- 
ed lb  many  prophets,  and 
haft  ftoned  to  death  fo  many 
good  men,  who  were  fent  to 
reform  thee — For  how  many 
ages  have  I  ftrove  to  fave  thee 
from  ruin  with  all  the  anxi- 
ous care  and   tender  foUici- 

tude 


Chap.  xlv.  hy 

tude  cf  the  mod  afreftionate 
parent" — buLyou  have  oblli- 
nately  refufed. 

OjC^  For  this  your  incorrigi- 
ble difobedience,  the  moft 
dreadful  deftrut5lion  fhall  o- 
verwliehn  your  city,  and 
your  coantry  fhall  be  depo- 
pulated— Nor  Ihall  you  ever 
again  Tee  me  prefent  among 
you,  'till  the  time  that  you 
fay,  Unfpeakably  happy  is 
he,  who  is  a  profeflbr  of  the 
gofpel ! 

CHAP.  XIV. 

EING  aflved  to  dinner 
by  one  of  the  princi- 
pal miCn  among  the  Pharifees, 
he  accepted  the  invitation  — 
but  hib  conducl:  was  narrowly 
oblerved  with  an  infidious 
defign  to  cenfure  and  afperfe 
him. 

2  While  he  was  in  the 
houfe  a  mi'erable  obje6t, 
fwollen  with  the  dropfy,  was 
brought  before  him. 

3  JcTus  turned  to  the 
expounders  of  the  law  and 
the  Pharifees,  who  were  there, 
and  f-iid,  Is  it  lawful  to  heal 
on  the  fabbath  day? 

4  They  maintained  a  ful- 
len  filence — He  then  laid  his 


u  K  E.  233 

hand  upon  him,  healed  him 
in  a  moment,  and  difmilfed 
him. 

5  He  then  faid  to  them. 
Doth  the  flri6teft  and  moft 
fcrupulous  perfon  among  you, 
when  he  fees  any  of  his  cat- 
tle fallen  into  a  pit,  hefitatc 
a  moment  to  extricate  and 
preferve  it  on  the  fabbath. 

6  This  argum.ent  con- 
founded them — and  with  all 
their  malice  they  were  unable 
to  obviate  it. 

7  Obferving  with  what  ea- 
gernefs  the  company  ftrove 
to  fecure  fome  of  the  princi- 
pal and  moft  honourable  feats 
at  this  entertainment ;  he  re- 
proved their  ambition  and  q- 
ftentatious  vanity  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner. 

8  When  you  are  invited 
to  a  nuptial  feaft,  fuffer  not  a 
principle  of  pride  and  arro- 
gance to  prompt  you  to  fe- 
le6b  one  of  the  firft  places  at 
table  for  yourfelf — for  ftiould 
a  perfon  of  greater  dignity  and 
eminence  than  yourfelf  enter 
the  room, 

9  and  the  gentleman  who 
invited  you  (hould  come,  and 
order  you  to  quit  your  feat 
for  a  perfon  of  his  cliarader 
— you  would  then  be  fevere- 


"  In  the  greek  it  is — as  an  hen  anxioufly  protedeth  her  chickens  under 
her  wings.  This  fine  pifture  of  tendernefs  is  reprefented  by  that  pa- 
thetic and  moral  poet  Euripides. 

Nioffs©'  aaei  "Tm^vyeti  HffTrniuv  iy.ai,    Troad,  746. 


234  ^^^^  Hiftoiy 

ly  mortified,  and  defcend 
from  the  elevation  you  had  oc- 
cupied, covered  with  bUiflies 
and  confufion. 

10  Upon  ilich  occafions 
so  and  choofe  one  of  the 
Joweft  feats — that  when  the 
gentleman  takes  a  view  of 
his  gucfts  he  may  fay  to  you, 
My  dear  friend !  you  fhall  not 
fit  there — I  will  place  you  ac- 
cording to  the  diftinguifhed 
worth  I  know  you  to  pofTefs 
— This  condu6t  will  gain  you 
the  refpe£l  of  the  company, 
and  conciliate  that 
and  honour  to 
nuine  and  unaftefted  humi- 
lity and  modelly  are  enti- 
tled \ 

1 1  For  afpiring  arrogance 
jfhall  be  debafed,  but  humble 
virtue  fliall  be  exalted, 

12  He  then  faid  to  the 
peribn,  who  afked  him  to 
dinner.  When  you  make  a 
fplendid  and  fumptuous  en- 
tertainment, invite  not  mere- 
ly your  relations,  your  friends, 
and  the  opulent  families  in 
your  neighbourhood  ■         for 


regard 
which    ge- 


of  Jesus        Chap,  xiv. 

thefe  will  re-invite  you  to 
their  entertainments,  and  re- 
turn the  civilities  you  have 
(lie wed  them. 

13  But  when  you  make  a 
magnificent  feaft,  inform  the 
cripple  and  the  blind,  the  in- 
digent and  necelfitous,  and 
diltribute  the  fragments  of 
it  among  them,  that  they 
may  alio  participate  the  plen- 
ty ot  your  genial  table. 

14  This  difintereiled  bene- 
ficence will  fecure  you  the 
divine  blefling  —  Thefe  un- 
happy objects  cannot  recom- 
penfe  you — God  will  recom- 
penfe  you  at  the  refurredlion 
of  the  good. 

15  One  of  the  company 
hearing  this  diicourie  faid, 
Ho\v  dillinguillied  will  kis 
happinefs  be,  who  lives  un- 
der the  reign  of  the  MefTiah, 
and  fhares  that  feftivity  and 
joy,  that  will  then  be  uni- 
vcrfal  p. 

16  He  replied,  An  opu- 
lent gentleman  prepared  a 
grand  and  fplendid  enter- 
tainment— and  the  preceding 


•^  There  is  a  ftory  in  Plutarch  that  illullrates  this  precept.  One  Lucius, 
whoh.id  been  lately  llruck  out  of  the  lill  of  S.vjators,  entered  the  theatre 
one  day,  when  there  were  fomc  grand  reprefentations  to  be  exhibited  ; 

the  populace  and  Senators  being  all  Tented He  placed  himfelf  on  one 

of  the  loTir^  and  lez,l\  honourable  forms The  fight  excited  in  the  po- 
pulace univcrfal  compaffion they  could  not  bear  it They  all  cla- 
moured, and  infilled  upon  his  fitting  ai,Tiong  the  Senators The  Senators 

accordingly  admitted  him  among  thein.     P/?//.  Flam  in,  694.  Stephan. 

J"  In  the  criminal,  eat  bread  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  The  kingdom  of 
God  fignitics  the  times  of  the  Melliah.  Eating  bread  cannot  refer  to  the 
celeltial  world.  ... 

day 


chap.  xiv. 

day  fent  invitations  to  a  great 
number. 

17  Waiting  a  long  time 
for  his  guefts,  but  to  no  pur- 
pofe  —  at  laft  he  difpatched 
one  of  his  fervants  to  them, 
begging  they  would  delay  no 
longer — for  every  thing  was 
ready  to  be  ferved  up. 

18  They  then  all  began  to 
make  apologies  for  abfcnting 
thejnfelves — I  beg  you  would 
excufe  me  to  your  mafter, 
one  faid — I  have  lately  made 
a  purchafe  of  an  eftate,  and 
I  am  obliged  this  very  day  to 
go  and  view  it. 

19  Another  faid,  I  hope 
your  mafter  will  not  be  dif- 

plealed  at  my  abfence 1 

have  juft  bought  a  couple  of 
oxen  for  the  plow,  and  I  am 
going  this  moment  to  make  a 
trial  of  them. 

20  A  third  faid,  I  am  now 
celebrating  my  nuptial  fo- 
lemnities,  and  it  is  impofli- 
ble  for  me  to  come. 

21  The  fervant  returned 
and  gave  in  the  reafons  they 
had  alledged  for  abfenting 
themfelves  —  The  gentleman 
incenfed  at  thpir  contemp- 
tuous treatment  of  him,  or- 
dered his  fervant  inftandy  to 
go  into  the  ftreets  and  lanes 
of  the  town — and  to  invite  to 
his  houfe  all  the  poor,  the 
mutilated,  the  lame,  and  the 
blind  he  could  meet  with. 

22  The   fervant   loon  re- 


by   Luke.  235 

'  turned,  followed  by  a  numer- 
ous train  of  unhappy  objects 
• — whom  when  he  had  difpof- 
ed,  he  went  and  told  his  ma- 
fter that  the  room  was  capa- 
ble of  containing  a  great  ma- 
ny more. 

23  The  gentleman  faid,  Do 
you  go  then  into  the  public 
roads  about  the  city,  and  ex- 
ert all  the  force  and  power  of 
perfuafion  to  prevail  with  e- 
very  wretched  creature  you 
lee,  to  come  to  my  houfe  — 
I  am  defirous  to  have  it  filled. 

24  For  I  am  determined 
not  to  fend  any  more  invita- 
tions to  thofe,  who  have  treat- 
ed me  in  lb  difrefpedful  a 
manner. 

§ — 25  He  was  now  follow- 
ed by  an  immenfe  multitude—- 
to  whom  he  turned,  and  thus 
addrelfed  himfelf — 

26  Every  one  who  is  per- 
fuaded  in  his  own  mind  of 
the  truth  of  my  religion — if 
in  times  of  perfecution,  he 
doth  not  break  all  the  ftrong 
endearing  ties  of  filial  piety, 
conjugal  tendernefs,  and  pa- 
ternal affeftion,  and  diftblve 
all  the  other  bonds  of  con- 
fanguinity,  rather  than  abjure 
his  religion,  and  publickly 
difavow  its  principles  —  fhall 
never  be  acknowledged  as  a 
true  and  genuine  difciple. 

27  And  he  that  is  unwil- 
ling to  fubmit  to  the  fame  fe- 
ries  of  fufferings  for  his  reli- 

sion 


236 


T^be  Hiftory  of  Jesus 


gion  as  I  have  fupported,  is 
unworthy  the  name  of  my 
difciple. 

2  8  It  is  proper,  as  in  other 
cafes,  thai  you  fhould  previ- 
onfly  calculate  what  a  pro- 
feflionof  the  gofpel  may  pro- 
bably coft  you — For  does  not 
every  one,  who  intends  to 
build  himfelf  a  grand  and 
magnificent  houfe,  deliberate- 
ly fit  down,  and  eftimate  the 
expence  it  will  involve  him 
in  before  it  is  completed. 

29  For  fhould  all  his  for- 
tune, be  expended  and  he  be 
forced  to  drop  his  defign 
when  he  hath  done  little  more 
than  juft  laid  the  founda- 
tion—  every  pafTing  traveller 
•would  infult  his  folly  and  in- 
difcretion. 

30  See  here  an  houfe  be- 
gun upon  an  elegant  and  ex- 
tenfive  plan,  but  thro*  the 
inconfideration  and  impru- 
dence of  fome  thoughtlefs 
creature  obliged  to  be  difcon- 
tinued,  and  left  in  this  con- 
dition ! 

31  And  doth  not  every 
prince,  who  marches  a  body 
of  troops  to  give  battle  to  his 
enemy,  who  is  advancing  to 
meet  him,  deliberately  con- 
fider,  before  an  engagement 
enfue,  whether  he  with  ten 
thoufand  is  able  to  cope  with 
twice  the  number? 

32  Will  he  not,  when  he 
calmly  reviews  his  fituation, 


Chap.  XV. 

and  finds  how  unequal  he  is 

to  the  conflict,  dilpatch  an 
embafiadourto  him,  and  pro- 
pofe  terms  of  accommoda- 
tion ? 

33  In  like  manner  he  that 
doth  not  previoujly  refolve  to 
break  off  every  fond  connec- 
tion, and  facrifice  dl  his 
worldly  interefts  from  a  fin- 
cere  love  and  attachment  to 
my  caufe,  is  unworthy  the 
character  of  a  difciple. 

34  As  fait  is  of  excellent 
ufe  lb  long  as  it  'preferves 
its  original  qualities,  but 
when  inOpid,  is  thrown  away 
as  ufeicfs — So  be  ye  ever 
careful  to  maintain  your  in- 
teo-ritv  unblemiflied  and  ir- 
reproach  able ; 

-T^c^  For  fhould  you  once 
violate  and  forfeit  it,  you 
will  defervedly  render  your- 
felves  the  moft  abject  and 
worthlefs  of  all  mankind  •— • 
He  that  is  endowed  with  in- 
telledual  powers,  let  him  di- 
ligently cultivate  them  by  a 
facred  attention  to  truth  and 
wildom. 

CHAP.    XV. 

I  A  L  L  the  tax-gatherers 
-*^  and  a  great  number 
of  other  perfons  of  profligate 
and  immoral  chara6lers  ap- 
proached him  in  a  body  to 
hear  his  difcourfe-s. 

2  The  Fharifeesund  Scribes 
feeing 


Chap.  XV.  ^    ly   h 

feeino-  thefe  colleftcd  too;e- 
ther  and  forming  a  part  of 
his  audience,  faid.  This  per- 
fon  freely  admits  and  famili- 
arly converfes  with  men  of 
wicked  and  abandoned  lives. 

3  Upon  hearing  thefe  cen- 
fures,  he  turned  and  addref- 
fed  them  in  the  following  fi- 
gurative manner. 

4  Any  of  you  that  had  an 
hundred  (hcep,  if  but  one  of 
them  happen  to  ftray,  would 
he  not  leave  the  ninety-nine, 
and  traverle  the  deferts  and 
mountains  with  diligent  and 
anxious  care  in  fearch  of  it  ? 

5  And  (hould  he  be  fo  for- 
tunate as  to  find  it,  doth  he 
not  reconduct  it  in  his  arms 
to  the  red:  of  his  flock,  in  a 
tranfport  of  joy  ? 

6  And  when  he  comes 
home,  he  immediately  fends 
for  his  friends  and  his  neio;h- 
hours-! — and,,  elated  with  his 
fuccefs,  fays,  Congratulate  me 
upon  my  unexpefted  felici- 
ty !  —  I  have  juft  now  found 
the  flieep,  that  I  had  for  fome 
time  looked  upon  as  irretriev- 
ably loft. 

7  In  like  manner  I  folemn- 
ly  affure  you.  That  there  is 
greater  rejoicing  in  heaven 
over  one  fmcere  penitent  than 
over  ninety-nine  good  per- 
fons,  who  are  already  eftab- 
hftied  in  the  habits  of  piety 
and  virtue. 

S  A  woman  too,  that  hath 

2 


U   K  E.  237 

accumulated  by  her  indullry 
ten  pieces,  if  Ihe  happen  to 
lofe  but  one  of  them,  doth  flie 
not  light  a  candle,  fv/eep  the 
houfe,  and  explore  every 
room  with  the  greateft  folici- 
tude  and  ftridteft  fearch. 

9  If  Ihe  is  fo  happy  as  to 
find  ii— in  an  ccltacy  of  joy 
(he  infLuntly  fends,  for  her 
frien^as  and  neighbours,  and 
fays.  Congratulate  me  on  my 
unlooked-for  fuccels — -for  I 
have  found  the  piece  which  I 
had  almoft  given  up  as  irre- 
coverably loft. 

10  Such  joy  is  there  among 
the  blefled  fpirits  in  the  regi- 
ons of  immortality  at  the  re- 
formation of  one  abandoned 
finner. 

",  § — II  A  Gentleman  of 
a  fplendid  family  and  opulent 
fortune  had  tw^o  ions. 

12  One  day  the  younger 
approached  his  father,  and 
begged  him  in  the  moft  im- 
portunate and  foothing  terms 
to  make  a  partition  of  his  ef- 
feds  betwixt  hiaTelf  and  his 
elder  brother-^The  indulgent 
father,  overco::.:e  by  his  blan^ 
difliments,  immediately  di^ 
vided  all  his  fortunes  betwixt 
them. 

13  A  few  days  after,  the 
younger  brother  converted  all 
the  eftates  that  had  been  thus 
afligned  him  into  ready  mo- 
ney— left  his  native  foil,  and 
fettled  io. a  foreign  country 


— where. 


23 B  ne  Hiftory 

— where,  by  a  courfe  of  de- 
bauchery, profligacy,  and  e- 
very  expenfive  and  fa(hion- 
able  amulbment  and  diffipa- 
tion,  in  a  very  fhort  time,  he 
fquandercd  it  all  away. 

14  As  foon  as  he  had  difl"i- 
pated  his  fortune,  and  was 
now  reduced  to  extreme  indi- 
gence—  a  terrible  famine  vi- 
fited  the  country  in  which  he 
refided,  and  raged  with  fuch 
dire  and  univerfal  devcftati- 
on,  that  he  was  in  want  even 
of  the  common  neceflaries  of 

lifb.> 

15  Finding  himfelf  now 
deftitute  of  bread,  and  hav- 
ing nothing  to  eat  to  fatisfy  a 
raging  appetite — he  went  to 
an  opulent  citizen,  and  beg- 
ged him  in  the  moft  fuppli- 
cant  terms  that  he  would  em- 
ploy him  in  any  menial  drud- 
gery— The  gentleman  hired 
him,  and  fent  him  into  his 
fields  to  feed  fwine  ^. 

16  Here  he  was  io  dread- 
fully tormented  with  hunger, 
that  he  envied  even  the  fwine 
the  hufks  which  he  faw  them 
greedily  devour — and  would 
willingly  have  allayed  with 
thefe  the  dire  fenfations  he 
felt — but  none  of  his  fellow- 
fervants  would  permit  him. 

17  But  refieflion,  which 
his  vices  had  kept  fo  long  in 
a  profound    fleep,     now    a- 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xv. 

woke — He  now  began  to  re- 
view the  paft  fcenes  of  his 
life,  and  all  the  plenty  and 
happinefs  in  which  he  had 
once  lived  now  ruflicd  into 
his  mind — What  a  vail  num- 
ber of  fervants,  faid  he,  hath 
my  father,  who  riot  in  fuper- 
fluous  abundance  and  af- 
fluence, while  I  am  ema- 
ciated and  dying  with  hun- 
ger. ; 

1 8  I  am  determined  to  go 
to  my  dear  aged  parent,  and 
try  to  excite  his  tendernefs 
and  companion  for  me  —  I 
will  kneel  before  him,  and 
accoft  him  in  thefe  penitent 
and  pathetic  terms  —  Beft  of 
parents !  I  acknowledge  my- 
lelf  an  ungrateful  creature  to 
heaven  and  to  you  !  ^ 

19  I  have  rendered  my- 
felf,  by  a  long  courfe  of  ma- 
ny fliameful  vices,  unworthy 
of  the  name  of  your  child  ! — • 
Condefcend  to  hire  me  into 
your  family  in  the  capacity  of 
the  meaneit  flave. 

20  Having  formed  this  re- 
folution,  he  travelled  towards 
home,  without  cloaths,  and 
without  Ihoes — with  all  the 
hafle,  that  a  body  pining  with 
hunger,  and  exhaufted  by  fa- 
tigue could  make-f-When  he 
was  now  come  witliin  fight  of 
home,  his  father  faw  him  at 
a  diftance — knew  him — and 


^  A  very  difagrecable  office  to  a  'Jtnv, ' 


was 


Chap.  XV.  hy   L 

was  fubdued  at  once  with  pa- 
ternal tendernefs  and  pity — 
He  rufhed  to  meet  him  with 
fwift  and  impatient  fteps — 
folded  him  in  his  arms — im- 
printed a  thoufand  ardent 
kifies  on  his  lips — the  tears 
ftraying  down  his  venerable 
cheeks,  and  the  big  paflions, 
that  ftruggled  in  his  breaft, 
choaking  his  utterance. 

2  1  After  fome  time  the 
fon  faid' — Bed  and  kindeft  of 
parents !  I  have  been  guilty 
of  the  blacked  ingratitude 
both  to  God  and  to  you  !  — 
I  am  unworthy  ever  to  be 
called  your  child  ! 

2  2  His  father  without 
making  any  reply  to  thele 
words,  called  his  fervants, 
laying,  Bring  hither  immedi- 
ately a  complete  i'uit  of  the 
bed  apparel  I  have  in  the 
houfe — - 

23  And  do  you  fetch  the 
fat  calf  from  the  dall,  and 
kill  it — for  we  will  devote  this 
day  to  fedivity  and  joy. 

24  For  this  is  my  Ion  !  — 
He,  whole  death  I  have  fo 
long  and  bitterly  deplored,  is 

yet  alive! Him,  whom  I 

believed  had  miferably  periih- 
ed,  I  have  now  recovered  ! — 
A  mod  fplendid  entertain- 
ment was  accordingly  pre- 
pared— and  every  heart  was 
dilated  with  tranfport  on  this 
happy  occafion. 

25  In    the    mean    time. 


u  K  E. 


239 


while  they  were  thus  joyfully 
celebrating  his  return — -the 
elder  brother  was  ahfent  in 
the  fields^ — ^On  his  coming 
home  in  the  evening,  when 
he  approached  the  houfe,  he 
heard  the  whole  dome  refound 
with  vocal  and  indrumental 
mufic,  and  dancing. 

26  He  called  one  of  the 
fervants,  and  afked  him  the 
meaning  of  this  unexpefted 
fcene. 

27  The  fervant  faid,  Your 
brother.  Sir,  is  jud  returned 
from  abroad and  your  fa- 
ther is  celebrating  this  happy 
occafion  by  a  mod  fplendid 
and  elegant  entertainment. 

28  This  account  of  his 
father's  condud  highly  incen- 

fed  and  exafperated  him 

and  he  obdinately  refufed  to 
go  into  the  hall  to  his  brother, 
and  to  the  other  company  — 
His  behaviour  being  told  the 
father,  he  came  out  to  him — 
and  even  entreated  him  to 
come  in,and  fliare  theirfelicity. 

29  To  thefe  adeftionate 
perfuafions  he  fullenly  repli- 
ed, I  have  done  all  your 
drudgery  for  a  great  number 
of  years  pad,  and  never  once 
difobeyed  any  of  your  orders 
— yet  you  never  made  me  a 
prefent  even  of  fuch  a  trifle 
as  a  kid,  and  bad  me  go  and 
entertam  my  friends. 

30  But  no  fooner  doth 
this  libertine  return  to  you, 

after 


240 

^fter  having  dlffipated  all  the 
fortune  you  gave  him  in 
the  vilell  fenfuality  and  de- 
bauchery—  but  you  embrace 
him  in  an  ecftacy  of  joy  — 
bathe  him  in  a  flood  of  tears 
•—and  folemnize  the  day  by 
a  fumptuous  and  magnificent 
feaft. 

31  His  father  faid  to  him, 
My  dear  fon !  the  paternal 
inheritance  you  know,  is 
yours You  have  been  al- 
ways with  me  :  I  have  never 
regretted  your  abfence — 

32  You  too'  ought  there- 
fore to  indulge  the  warmeft 
joy,  and  mutually  to  fhare  in 
ouu  tranfports,  upon  receiv- 
ing a  brother,  whofe  death 
we  have  fo  often  lamented, 
and  recovering  one,  whofe 
lofs  we  have  fo  bitterly  de- 
plored. 

CHAP.   XVI. 

1  T_TE  moreover  recited  to 
-*-■■•  his  difciples  the  fol- 
lowing parable — A  certain 
rich  nobleman  had  a  fteward, 
who  was  accufed  of  embezz- 
ling his  property,  and  diffi- 
pating  his  fortunes  in  a  courfe 
of  extravagance  and  profu- 
fion. 


Tihe  Hiftory  ^  Jesus        Chap.  xvl. 


2  Immediately  upon  this 
information  he  fent  for  his 
fteward,  and  faid  to  him  — 
What  foundation  is  there  for 
the  fcandalous  reports  I  re- 
ceive of  your  condu6t  ?  — — 
You  are  charged  with  fraud 
and  dilhoaefty  to  me  —  Lay 
all  your'  accounts  regularly 
before  me  —  for  I  iliall  not 
continue  you  any  longer  in 
the  office. 

3  So  unexpe(5ted  a  recep- 
tion quite  overwhelmed  the 
fteward  —  Alas,  faid  he  to 
himfelf,  what  fhall  I  do  for  a 
maintenance   when   my  lord 

difcards  me  ! I  have  no  ' 

ftrength  to  do  any  of  the 
drudgery  of  agriculture  — 
and  to  beg  my  bread  from 
door  to  door,  is  a  thought 
that  fills  me  with  confufion 
and  horror. 

4  After  deliberating  fome 
time  what  courfe  he  fhould 
purfue — he  cried  out  in  rap-' 

tures 1  have  hit  upon  a 

fortunate  fcheme,  that  will, 
when  I  am  turned  out,  pre- 
ferve  me  from  indigence  and 
wretched nefs  —  and  procure 
me  a  friendly  entertainment 
and  reception  among  my 
lord's  tenants. 

I      5  When  he  had  planned 

•■  Our  tranflators  have  entirely  disfigured  the  beauty  of  the  parable 
by  tranflating  it  woe,  inllead  oi you  alfo.  For  as  the  elder  brother  was  in- 
tended to  reprefent  the  JetnJ,  and  the  younger  the  Gentile the  father, 

who  reprefents  t\iQ  comman parent  of  both  nations,  judges  it  highly  rca- 
fonable  and  fraternal,  that  the  eUtr  ihould  rejoice  at  the  converfion  of  the 
jounger, 

and 


chap.  xvL 


by   L 


U   K  E. 


and  concerted  his  projeft,  he 
fent  for  every  tenant,  v/hom 
he  knew  was  in  arrears  to  his 
lord,  and  laid  to  one — How 
much  do  you  Hand  indebted 
to  my  mailer  ? 

6  The  tenant  faid,  My  debt 
amounts  to  one  hundred 
baths  of  oil— -The  Iteward 
faid,  Take  your  bill  imme- 
diately,   and  fet  down  fifty. 

7  He  called  another  and 
faid  to  him.  How  much  do 
you  owe  ? — He  faid,  an  hun- 
dred homers  of  wheat — He 
faid,  Take  your  bill  and  put 
down  eighty. 

8  When  the  gentleman 
heard  of  this  fchemc  which 
his  artful  and  fraudulent 
fteward  had  formed  and  exe- 
cuted —  he  greatly  admired 
and  applauded  him  for  the 
admirable  acutenefs  and  pro- 
found fagacity  he  had  dii- 
played  to  procure  himfelf  a 
livelihood  —  For  thofe,  vv  ho 
are  devoted  to  temporal  in- 
terefts,  exert  greater  wifdom 
and  prudence  in  the  manage- 
ment of  their  fecular  bufi- 
nefs,  than  the  virtuous  and 
good  difcover  in  the  tranf- 
a6tion  of  their  cdejiial  con- 
cerns. 

9  I  exhort  you  in  like  man- 
ner to  procure  the  favour  oi 
God    and    good    fpirits    by 


241 

and 


tranfitory 


diftribudng,  in  charity 
beneficence,  the 
riches  of  this  life— that  when 
they  are  exhaufred  %  or  torn 
from  you  by  any  accident, 
you  may  find  a  joyful  recep- 
tion into  the  manfions  of  im- 
mortaiity, 

10  As  he  that  hath  main- 
tained an  uncorrupted  integ- 
rity in  the  management  of  a 
fmall  truft,  v/ill  difplay  it  in 
a  more  important  one — and, 
on  the  contrary,  as  he  who 
hath  been  dirnoneil  in  the 
lowefb  flation  will  carry  \/\i\\ 
him  the  fame  fraudulent  prin- 
ciples into  the  higheil : 

1 1  fo  alfo  if  you  do  not 
approve  your  fidelity  and 
virtue  in  the  adminiftration 
of  the  falfe  and  fugitive  in- 
terefls  of  this  life  —  how  can 
you  expect  that  God  will 
commit  to  you  the  folid  and 
permanent  riches  of  eterniiy  ! 

12  And  if  you  have  vio- 
lated the  principles  of  integ- 
rity and  honour  in  the  direc- 
tion of  what  God  hath  en- 
trufted  you  with  for  fo  Jliort 
a  time — will  he  afiign  to  you 
the  perpetual  pofiefTion  of  im- 
mortality ! 

13  As  it  is  impofTible  for 
a  fervant  to  love  two  mailers 
of  quite  ditferent  diipofitions 
and  tempers  with  equal  affec- 


•  F.y,A/-TH  v.'hich  the  Alsxandrlan  and  Cambridge  MSS.  exhibit,  is   the 
true  reading. 


Vol.  I. 


R 


tion 


242  ne  Hiflory 

tion — for  one  will  nccefTqrily 
be  the  objeft  of  his  efteem 
and  regard,  and  the  other  of 
his  averfion  and  contempt — 
fo  no  perlon  can  at  the  fame 
time  be  truly  religious,  while 
his  heart  is  enflaved  to  fordid 
avarice  and  worldly-minded- 
nefs. 

§ 14   The   Pharifees, 

who  were  excelTively  avarici- 
ous, heard  the  preceding  dif- 
courfes — and  treated  him  with 
the  moft  contemptuous  fcorn 
and  derifion. 

15  Jefus  feeing  the  con- 
tempt they  exprefled,  turned 
to  them  and  laid,  Before  the 
world  you  fhow  a  fair  exter- 
nal femblance  of  uncom- 
mon fandlity  and  holinefs  — 
but  God  fees  the  turpitude 
and  deformity  that  lurk  be- 
hind it — That  which  fecures 
you  the  admiration  and  ap- 
plaufe  of  man,  God  beholds 
with  detcftation  and  liorrour. 

16  The  mofaic  difpcnfation 
continued  in  full  iorce  'till 
the  commencement  of  John's 
miniftry — fince  that  period 
the  joyful  news  of  the  gofpel 
difpcnfation  is  every  where 
proclaimed  and  publifhed ; 
but  the  incorrigibly  deprav- 
ed and  prejudiced  oppofe  its 
reception  with  the  moll  de- 


of  Jesus         Chap.  xvi. 

termined  violence  '  and  ran- 
cour. 

1 7  But  notwithftanding  their 
inveterate  rage  to  crulhitin  its 
birth,  fooner  fhall  heaven  and 
earth  be  confounded  in  one 
general  ruin,  than  the  leaft 
of  my  laws  be  ever  abrogated 
and  fuperfeded  by  the  malice 
of  men. 

1 8  He  that  repudiates  his 
wife  to  marry  another  is  guil- 
ty of  adultery  —  and  he  that 
marries  the  woman  thus  dif- 
mified  is  acceflbry  to  the 
crime  of  adultery. 

§ —  1 9  Th  ere  was  a  rich  man 
poffcfled  of  an  immenfe  for- 
tune— who  was  always  drefl^ 
ed  in  the  moft  fplendid  and 
lumptuous  robes  —  and  was 
every  day  regaled  with  all  the 
refinements  of  luxury  and 
pleaiure. 

20  At  the  proud  gate  of  this 
rich  voluptuary  was  laid  a  molt 
miferable  object  whofe  name 
was  Lazarus — covered  with 
ulcers. 

21  This  unhappy  creature 
folicited  in  the  moil  plaintive 
and  moving  terms,  that  lie 
might  have  only  the  crumbs, 
that  dropped  from  the  luxuri- 
ous board,  to  allay  his  raging 
hunger — but  was  refufed — 
The    dogs,    however,    more 


»  The  Cambridge  MS.  reads — Every  one  that  is  difpojed  to  embrace  thr 
gofpel  is  violently  outraged.  This  appears  to  me  to  have  been  the  origi- 
nal reading. 

friend  I V 


Chap. 


XVI. 


by    Luke. 


friendly  and  companionate,  af- 
fuaged  his  pain,  and  gave 
him  a  momentary  eafe  by 
licking  his  fores. 

22  Death  foon  gave  this 
wretched  creature  a  kind  dif 
miffion  from  his  forrows  — 
But  behold  !  he  was  inftant- 
ly  conveyed  by  angels  into 
the  regions  of  immortal 
blifs,  and  made  an  afleflbr  with 
Abraham  —  The  proud  fen- 
fualift  alfo  died  and  was  in- 
terred. 

23  But  the  moment  after 
the  diifolution  of  foul  and 
body,  he  found  himfelf  plung- 
ed into  the  mod  dreadful  and 

horrid  miferies In  thefe 

doleful  regions  throwing  his 
eyes  around  from  fide  to  fide, 
he  difcovered  at  an  immenfe 
diftance  his  great  progenitor 
Abraham,  and  Lazarus  re- 
clining on  his  bofom,  in  the 
full  fruition  of  ineffable  joy. 

24  Inftantly  he  railed  his 
voice,  and  in  the  moft  pierc- 
ing and  affecting  accents  cri- 
ed. Pity,  O  thou  great  and 
worthy  anceftor,  do  pity  me ! 
—  I  conjure  thee,  fend  La- 
zarus to  me  !  —  It  is  but  a 
fmall  favour  I  follicit — only 
to  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger 
in  cold  water,  and  put  one 
fingle  refrefhing  drop  to  m.y 
tongue — for  I  fuffer  the  moft 
dire  and  intolerable  torments 
in  thefe  incircling  flames ! 

25  Abraham  fald  to  him, 


243 

Confider,  my  fon  !  — on  earth 
you  were  blefled  with  afBu- 
.ence,  and  traverfed  a  circle 
of  every  fond  amufement  and 
joy  —  Lazarus  on  the  con- 
trary was  overwhelmed  with 
all  human  life's  variety  of 
wretchednefs — l^xMhere  the 
fcene  is  reverfed — Now  he  is 
confummately  happy  —  thou 
art  completely  wrcrched. 

26  Befides,  it  is  impolTible 
for  us  to  afford  thee  ihe  af- 
fiftance  thou  lb  pathetically 
implorcft — for  there  is  a  vaft 
and  profound  gulph  that  e- 
ternally  interpoies  betwixt  us, 
and  for  ever  precludes  all 
mutual  intercourfe  betwixt 
the  inhabitants  of  thefe  tvv'o 
different  regions. 

27  To  this  he  replied,  fuf- 
fer me  however,  O  mofc  ho- 
ly and  iiluftrious  progenitor, 
to  prevail  with  you  to  fend 
him  to  my  father's  houfe. 

28  I  have  five  brothers 
dilTolved  in  luxury  and  plea- 
fure — Bid  him  appear  to  thefe 
and  warn  them  in  the  moft 
folemn  manner  to  repent  and 
reform  their  lives,  that  they 
too  may  not  be  precipitated 
into  thefe  doleful  and  horrid 
abodes. 

29  To  this  rcqucft  Abra- 
ham replied.  They  have  the 
books  of  Mofes  and  the  pro- 
phets— the  rules  of  their  du- 
ty are  there  plainly  dellncac- 
ed  —  Let   tiieni  make  ilivrfe 


i\  2 


rules 


244 

rules  the  laws  of  their  moral 
condu6l  and  obedience. 

qo  He  refiimcd,  Suffer  me, 
great  ancellor,  to  be  impor- 
tunate with  you —  If  a  celel- 
tial  fpirit  were  folcmnly  de- 
puted to  them  from  the  man- 
fions  of  the  dead  to  admonifh 
them — they  would  be  reclaim- 
ed from  their  vices. 

31  He  anfwered.  If  they 
are  detcn"nined  to  flight  the 
faithful  advice  of  Mofcs  and 
the  prophets,  they  v/ould  al- 
fo  difregard  the  moft  Iblemn 
admonitions  that  could  be 
given  them  by  a  mellenger 
trom  the  world  of  fpirits. 

c  n  A  p.  xvii. 

I  ILJIE  fifid  to  his  difciples, 
JlX  'ihe  weaknefs  and 
wickedncfs  of  mankind  will 
necefiarily  produce  many  ob- 
ftacles  to  impede  the  recep- 
tion and  progrefs  of  the  gol- 
pel — but  dreadful  beyond 
conception  will  be  the  final 
doom  of  tliat  man  by  whom 
fuch  obftacles  .ire  firft  laid. 

2  For  whoever  fliall  de- 
fignedly  lay  a  flumbling  block 
before  the  meaneft  of  my  fol- 
lowers, and  be  the  wilful 
author  of  his  apoftacy  from 
my  religion,  Iiad  better  have 
a  mill-ftone  fufpended  about 
his  neck,  and  be  plunged  in- 
to the  profoundeft  abyfs. 

3  Exercife  the  ftriftcft  vi- 


^hc  Hiilory  of  Jesus      Chap.  xvli. 

gilance  over  your  own  con- 
dudf — Should  your  Chriftian 
brother  do  you  an  injury,  re- 
prove him  in  a  calm  and  dil- 
pafllonate  manner  —  if  he  is 
touched  with  compunftion 
for  the  injullice  he  hath  done 
you,  and  fmcerely  repents  of 
it — hefitate  not  a  moment  to 
forgive  him. 

4  And  fl^ould  he  repeat 
the  offence  feven  times  in 
a  day,  and  as  often  folicit 
your  forgivenefs,  with  fincere 
penitence  declaring  his  for- 
row  and  remorfe  for  what  he 
hath  done,  you  fliall  gener- 
oufly  forgive  him. 

§ — 3  About  that  time  the 
dilciples  faid  tojefus-,  Be  pleaf- 
ed,  Sir,  to  beilaw  upon  us 
larg;;r  mcafures  of  that  faith 
that  may  enable  us  to  per- 
form greater  miracles. 

6  Jefus  replied.  Did  your 
faith  bear  the  fmalleft  pro- 
portion to  the  fingular  ad- 
vantages you  have  enjoyed 
of  eftabliniing  and  confirm- 
ing it  —  you  would  be  able 
to  produce  as  aftoniihing  0- 
perations,  as  eradicating  that 
fycamine  by  a  word — tranf- 
porting  it  thro'  the  air,  and 
planting  it  in  the  ocean. 

7  Will  any  man  who  hath 
a  fervant  employed  in  culti- 
vating his  fields  or  feeding 
his  flocks  fay  to  him  when 
he  returns  home  from  his 
fervile  occupation — Go,  re- 
cline 


Chap.  xvil.  by  L 

cline  on  my  couch  —  gratify 
thine  appetite,  and  indulge 
thine  eafe. 

8  Inflread  of  fuch  language 
doth  he  not  fay  to  him,  Haf- 
ten  fupper  and  wait  at  table 
• —  you  may  afterwards  get 
yourfelf  fome  refrefhment 
after  your  fatigue. 

9  Is  he  under  any  obliga- 
tion to  his  fervant  for  obey- 
ing his  orders  and  perform- 
ing the  incumbent  offices  of 
his  ilation  ?  —  moft  certainly 
none  at  all. 

10  In  like  manner  after 
you  have  regularly  and  con- 
icientioufiy  difcharged  all  the 
duties  that  have  been  enjoin- 
ed you  —  fay  with  pious  and 
undiflembled  humility,  We 
are  unprofitable  creatures ! 
We  have  done  no  more  than 
what  our  duty  abfolutely  re- 
quired from  us ! 

§ — 1 1  In  his  journey  to 
Jerufalem  he  travelled  thro' 
the  confines  of  Samaria  and 
Galilee. 

12  On  his  entrance  into  a 
village  he  was  met  by  ten 
perfons  affefted  with  leprofy 
— '  who  approached  not  his 
perfon,  but  flood  in  a  body 
at  fome  diftance  from  the 
multitude. 


U  K  E.  245 

13  They  then  pierced  the 
air  with  loud  and  piteous 
cries,  faying,  lUutlrious  pro- 
phet !  pity  our  wretched  con- 
dition ! 

14  Jefus  faid  to  them.  Go 
and  prefent  yourfelves  to  the 
priefts  according  to  the  pre- 

fcription  of  the  law -They 

had  not  advanced  but  a  few 
paces,  before  they  found 
themfelves  compleatly  cured. 

15  One  of  them,  touched 
with  gratitude  at  his  miracu- 
lous reftoration,  turned  back, 
celebrating  the  goodnefs  of 
God  to  him  in  loud  and  rap- 
turous accents. 

16  And  in  this  flow  of  joy 
advancing   up   to   Jefus,   he 

threw  himfelf  at  his  i^(ti 

thanking  him  in  the  moft  fer- 
vent eiTufions  of  gratitude  for 
the  mercy  he  had  beftowed 
on  him — This  grateful  crea- 
ture was  a  Samaritan. 

17  Jefus  faid.    Were  not 

ten  miraculoufly  healed  ? 

Where  are  the  other  nine  ? 

1 8  Had  none  of  them  the 
ingenuity  and  goodnefs  of 
heart  to  return,.'  and  pay 
their  public  acknowledg- 
ments to  God,  but  this  de- 
fpifed  and  detefted  heretic  "  .^ 

19  Jefus    then   turned  to 

"  The  Je-jjs  called  the  Samaritans  a^^Koyevoi  ilrangers,  tho'  Samaria 
was  but  a  few  miles  from  Jcrtifalcm.  But  they  fhunned  all  intercourfe  with 
them,  as  if  they  had  been  at  the  remoteil  diftance,  and  treated  them  as  the 
molt  abandoned  and  defpicable  heretics.  I  have  therefore  chofen  to  render 
it  by  this  lail  word,  as  conveying  the  true  fenfe  of  our  Saviour — who  here 
cenfures  the  Je-ivs  for  their  ingratitude,  and  applauds  ingenuity  and  good- 
nefs of  heart  in  one  whofc  fed  and  very  name  they  implacably  hated  and 
abhorred. 

R  X  the 


246 


The  Hiftory  of  Jesus        Chap.  xvii. 


the  Samaritan  and  faid  to  him, 
Rife  and  go  home — The  faith 
you  have  repofed  in  my  di- 
vine power  hath  obtained  the 
cure  of  your  difeafe. 

§ — -20  Being  aflced  by  the 
Pharifees,  when  the  kingdom 
of  the  Meffiah  would  com- 
mence—-he  anfwered,  That 
kingdom  is  not  to  be  erefted 
with  any  external  difplay  of 
pomp  and  fplendour. 

21  Nor  will  it  be  faid,  Be- 
hold !  it  is  gloriouQyeftabiifh- 
ing  itfelf  in  fuch  or  fuch  a 
particular  place  —  for  be  af- 
lured  that  it  is  now  filently 
and  infcnfibly  forming  itfelf 
among  you. 

22  He  then  faid  to  his  dif- 
ciples.  The  diftrefiing  times 
will  foon  come,  when  you 
will  look  back  with  regret 
on  the  happinefs  you  enjoyed 
in  my  former  converfe,  and 
will  paffionately  wifh  for  my 
prefence  to  comfort  and  con- 
ible  you — but  wifh  in  vain. 

23  In  thofe  days  they  will 
jay  to  you.  Behold  !  the  long 
expedled  Meffiah  hath  now 
made  his  public  appearance 
in  fuch  a  town — Haften  not 
thither  with  fwift  and  eager 
fteps. 

24  For  as  lightening  darts 
at  one  fwcep  in  a  moment 
from  one  extremity  of  the 
pole  to  the  other — with  fuch 
rapidity    and    fwiftnefs    fnalj 


the  fon  of  man  come  to  de- 
ftroy  the  Jewifh  nation. 

25  But  he  muft  firft  fuffer 
a  thoufand  indignities — and 
be  publickly  rejedted  and 
condemned  by  the  prefent  ge- 
neration. 

26  The  features  of  the 
time,  in  which  thefe  dread- 
ful calamities  fhall  overwhelm 
them,  fhall  exadly  refemble 
thofe  of  the  times  in  which 
Noah  lived. 

27  The  men  of  that  age 
were  then  immerfed  in  the 
excefTes  of  all  fenfual  indul- 
gence-  and  continued  in  a 

courfe  of  luxury,  intemper- 
ance, and  every  loft  amufe- 
ment  and  pleafure  'till  the 
very  day  that  Noah  entered 
into  the  ark — -and  never  once 
fufpeded  the  impending  in- 
undation, 'till  it  fuddenly 
rufhed  down  upon  them  and 
fwept  them  all  away. 

28  It  was  thus  alfo  in  the 
days  of  Lot- The  inhabi- 
tants of  Sodom  and  Gomor- 
ra  were  then  eating,  drink- 
ing, buying,  felling,  plant- 
ing, building — and  continu- 
ed in  the  boundlefs  purfuit  of 
all  fenfuality  and  voluptuouf- 
nefs, 

29  'till  the  very  hour  that 
Lot  quitted  Sodom  under 
the  condu6l  of  an  angel——— 
when  they,  funk  in  fecurity 
and  peace,  were  at  once  over- 
whelmed 


Chap,  xviii.  ^X    ^  u 

whelmed  in  a  torrent  of  fire 
and  bnmftone  pouring  upon 
them  from  heaven,  and  were 
plunged  in  moft  dreadful  and 
univerfal  perdition. 

30  Juft  fuch  will  be  the 
ftate  of  things,  when  the  fon 
of  man  fuddenly  comes,  and 
difplays  his  power  in  the  de- 
ftru6tion  of  this  impenitent 
nation. 

3 1  He  who  then  happens 
to  be  on  the  top  of  his  houfe, 
and  fees  the  deftrudive  army 
approach  — let  him  not  ftay 
a  moment  to  take  any  of  his 
furniture. — Pie  who  is  then 
in  the  fields,  let  him  not  turn 
back  to  his  houfe. 

32  In  that  emergency  let 
the  remembrance  of  the  fate 
that  befell  the  wife  of  Lot 
urge  you  to  the  moft  preci- 
pitate flight. 

33  He  who  fhall  then 
hope  to  fave  his  life  by  flying 
into   the   ftrong  and  fortified 

Metropolis,  fliall  lofe  it- 

But  he  who  fhall  fcem  to 
throw  away  his  life  by  flying 
to  the  open  and  defencelels 
towns,  fhall  efcape  deftruc- 
tion. 

34  At  the  time  of  this  fud- 
den  irruption  there  fhall  be 
two  perlbns  in  one  bed,  a 
good  chriftian,  and  an  unbe- 
lieving Jew — the  one  of  whom 
fliall  be  involved  in  the  gene- 
ral deftruction,  the  other  fave 
himfelf  by  flight. 


K  E.  247 

25  Two  women  fliall  be 
grinding  at  the  fame  mill — 
one  fhall  be  taken  captive, 
the  other  providentially  make 
her  efcape. 

36  Ihere  fliall  be  twoper- 
fons  in  the  fame  field — the 
one  fliall  be  furprized,  the  o- 
ther  make  his  efcape. 

37  They  faid  to  him.  In 
what  place  will  thefe  dread- 
ful calamities  break  out? — 
He  anfwercd,  In  every  place, 
where  the  putrid  carcafe  lies, 
thither  will  the  eagles  colledt 
to  glut  their  raging  hunger. 

Chap,  xviii.  i  He  fpoke 
the  following  parable  to  his 
difciples,  in  order  to  repre- 
fent  to  them  the  necefllty  of 
fervent  and  conftant  prayer 
to  God  that  they  might  be 
delivered  from  thefe  impend- 
ing calamities. 

2  Th  ere  lived  in  a  certain  ci- 
ty a  judge  of  a  moft  abandoned 
and  profligate  charadler — in- 
flated with  fuch  infolence  and 
impiety,  that  he  profefl!ed  a 
fovereign  contempt  both  for 
God  and  man. 

3  In  the  fame  city  lived  a 
forlorn  and  oppreflTed  widow 
— who  came  to  him  and  fup- 
plicated  him  in  the  moft  im- 
portunate terms,  that  he 
would  vindicate  her  caufe, 
and  deliver  her  from  the  pow- 
er and  inhumanity  of  a  cruel 
and  unfeeling  wretch. 

R  4  4  She 


24^ 


lie  Hiflory 


4  She  teized  him  with 
thefe  moving  felicitations  for 
a  confiderable  time  to  no  pur- 
pofe — ftill  repulied,  and  ilill 
returning  to  recount  her  af- 
fedting  tale,  and  to  implore 

redrefs At  laft  he  faid  to 

himfelf,  Tho'  I  ccnfefs  my 
principles  are  atheiftical,  and 
that  I  have  fuch  a  fovereign 
contempt  for  mankind,  as 
not  to  regard  what  they  fay 
or  think  of  my  conduft, 

5  yet,  becaufe  this  v/idow 
incefiantly  ftuns  me  with  her 
complaints,  and  difturbs  the 
peace  and  tranquility  of  my 
mind — I  am  determined  to 
abet  her  caufe,  and  vindi- 
cate her  from  oppreffion — 
rr.erely  to  rid  myielf  for  the 
future  of  her  affeding  and 
importunate  clamours. 

6 .  Obferve,  faid  Jefus,  the 
icntimentsand  motives  of  this 
iniqiiitous  judge  ! — ^and  how 
he  fufters  himfelf  at  laft  to  be 
teized  into  a  compliance. 

7  And  will  not  the  fu- 
premely  nierciful  and  com- 
panionate parent,  tho'  his 
juftice  and  goodnefs  feem  to 


o/'  Jesus      Chap,  xviil. 

(lumber  for  a  conGderable 
time,  vindicate  at  laft  the  op- 
prelfed  caufe  of  his  faithful  and 
perlecuted  children — and  in 
anfwer  to  their  importunate 
and  repeated  cries  and  pray- 
ers refcue  them  from  the  cru- 
elty and  inhumanity  of  their 
implacable  perfecutors*  ! 

8  I  folcmnly  afiure  you  he 
will  in  no  long  time  appear 
in  their  compleat  vindication, 
and  wreak  his  dreadful  ven" 
geance  on  their  inveterate  op- 
prefibrs — But  alas !  when  the 
Ion  of  man  comes  to  inflid; 
this  punifhment  on  an  incor- 
rigible people,    tho'  he  hath 
fo  frequently  and  plainly  af- 
ferted  it,  how  inconfiderable 
will  the  number  of  thofe   be, 
who   will   at    that   time    be 
found  the   believers  and  ex- 
pec^lants  of  this  great  event"  ? 
§ — 9  To  fome,  whom  he 
knew  valued  themfelves  up- 
on their  fuperiorfanftity,  and 
entertained  a  fovereign  con- 
tempt  for  the  reft  of  man- 
kind, he  addrefled  this  para- 
ble : 

1  o  Two  men  went  to  the 


**  '^  Such  undoubtedly  t\\tjezvs  ever  were  to  the  Chi-ijljans  ':i!l  the  de- 

ftruftion    of  Jerufalem Then  they  \yere  vindicated   into  freedom  and 

liberty.  They  fuffered  ten  thoufand  indignities  and  miferics  from  that 
bjgotted  nation — but  God  at  lall  delivered  the  opprelfed  caufe  of  Chriftia- 
pity. 

'  This  was  really  the  cafe,  notwithflanding  our  Saviour's  plain  pre- 
diftion  of  the  deflruftion  of  Jerufalem — yet  tliere  were  numbers  of  care- 
lefs  and  profligate  Chriilians,  who,  as  Sc.  Peter  aifures  us,  were  faying, 
fFLerc  ii  the  ^romife  of  his  coT(iinn  f' 

.^  i^.^,^  temple 


Chap,  xvili.  ly   h 

temple  to  offer  up  their  de- 
votions to  God — one  was  a 
Pharifee,  the  other  a  tax-ga- 
therer. 

1 1  The  Pharifee  Hood  by 
himlelf,  difdaining  to  mix 
with  the  profane  and  irreligi- 
ous multitude,  and  with  an 
haughty  and  fupercilious  look 
uttered  this  prayer — I  thank 
thee,  O  God !  that  I  am  not 
like  the  reft  of  mankind,  mon- 
gers of  rapacity,  injuftice, 
and  debauchery ! — and  I  blefs 
thee,  in  particular,  that  I 
have  infinitely  more  virtue 
and  goodnefs  than  the  tax-ga- 
therer here  prefent ! 

12  For  thou  knoweft  that 
twice  every  week  I  keep  a 
folemn  religious  faft,  and 
that  I  moft  chearfully  and 
confcientioufly  confecrate  to 
pious  ufes  the  tenth  of  every 
thing  I  pofiefs. 
c  1 3  The  tax-gatherer  over- 
whelmed with  a  painful  con- 
fcioufnels  of  his  heinous 
crimes,  deemed  himfelf  un- 
worthy to  enter  within  the 
temple  of  fo  pure  and  ho- 
ly a  Being — He  ftood  in  the 
court  of  the  gentiles  in  the 
moft  humble  and  reverential 
pofture — not  daring  even  to 
life  his  eyes  tov/ards  that  holy 
Being,  whom  he  had  offend- 
ed— All  his  paft  guilt  here 

ruflied  into  his   mind he 

fmote  his  breaft and  in  a 

iBoQd  of  contrition  and   re- 

2 


U   K  E.  249 

morfe  cried.  Merciful  God  I 
be  propitiousto  me  a  fin- 
ner! 

14  I  afllire  you  that  this 
latter,  in  confequence  of  this 
fincere  and  devout  ejaculation, 
was  a  greater  obje6l  of  the 
divine  favour  and  complacen- 
cy than  the  former— for  fu- 
percilious arrogance  fhall  be 
abafed,  but  virtuous  humili- 
ty and  modefty  fliall  be  ex- 
alted. 

§ — 15  SoPviE  Jewifti  pa- 
rents at  that  time  brought  in- 
fants to  him,  that  he  might 
lay  his  hands  upon  them,  and 
recommend  them  to  the  blef- 
fing  of  God— But  the  difci- 
ples  perceiving  their  intenti- 
on, prevented  their  approach, 
and  reproved  thofe  who 
brought  them. 

1 6  Upon  this  Jefus  called 
to  his  difciples  and  faid,  for- 
bid not  the  accefs  of  little 
children  to  me — for  thofe  per- 
fons  only,  who  are  poftelfed 
of  their  native  innocence  and 
their  inoffenfive  difpofitions, 
are  the  worthy  fubjeds  of  the 
gofpcl  kingdom. 

1 7  I  declare  to  you  in  the 
moft  folemn  manner.  That 
he  who  doth  not  receive  the 
gofpel  difpenfation  with  the 
temper  and  difpofition  of  little 
children,  will  never  be  deem- 
ed a  true  and  v/orthy  mem- 
ber of  it. 

§— 18 


250  7!^^  Hiftory 

§ — 18  A  PERSON  of  dif- 
tinftion  now  approached  and 
accofted  him  in  the  following 
manner— Condefcend,  good 
jnftruvSlor,  to  acquaint  me 
what  courfeof  pradice  I  mult: 
purfue  in  order  to  enfure  e- 
ternal  hapninefs. 

19  Jeius  fald  to  him, 
What  induces  you  to  call  rne 

good that  venerable  title 

can  efientiaily  belong  only  to 
the  one  fupreme  God. 

20  You  know  the  precepts 
which  God  hath  prefcribed 
as  the  rules  of  duty---for  ex- 
ample, Thou  (halt  not  be 
guilty  of  adultery,  of  mur- 
der, of  theft,  of  falfe  accufa- 
tion — thou  fhait  honour  thy 
father  and  thy  mother, 

21  He  anfwered — I  have, 
Sir,  from  my  childhood  con- 
fcientioully  made  thefe  im- 
portant commands  the  con- 
ftant  rules  of  my  conduft. 

22  Jefus  faid  to  him.  You 
are  ftill  defeiflive  in  one  thing 
— If  you  are  defirous  to  at- 
tain the  higheft  pitch  of  ex- 
cellence and  virtue,  go  home, 
fell  all  your  pofieffionr,  dif- 
penfe  the  money  arifing  from 
the  Tale  among  the  poor,  and 
become  my  infeparable  com- 
panion  by  this  illuftrious 

conduct  you  willfecure  a  mofi: 
tranlcendent  and  diftinguifh- 
ed  degree  of  celeftial  blefled- 
ncfs. 

2^,  No   Iconer  had  Jefus 


of  Jesus       Chap,  xvilf. 

pronounced  thefe  words,  but 
he  was  apparently  overwhelm- 
ed with  grief  and  melancholy 
— for  he  was  immenfely  rich. 

24  Jefus  perceiving  the 
gloom  and  forrow  in  which 
he  was  inftantly  immerfed, 
faid,  How  dijfficult  a  thing  is 
it  for  thofe  who  are  poiTeifed 
ofopulentfortiines  to  enter  in- 
to the  kingdom  of  the  iVlef- 
iiah! 

25  It  is  as  impoflible  for 
a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the 
gofpel  kingdom,  as  it  is  for  a 
cable  to  be  forced  thro'  the 
eye  of  a  needle. 

26  They  who  heard  this 
aflereion  replied  —  How  can 
any  rich  man  then  ever  ob- 
tain eternal  falvation. 

27  He  anfwered.  Human- 
ly fpeaking  this  is  morally  im- 
poflible—  but  by  God's  all- 
powerful  alTiftance  the  very 
greateft  impediments  that 
riches  lay  in  men's  road  to 
chriftianity  may  be  furmount- 
ed. 

28  Peter  then  faid  to  him. 
We  thy  difciples  have  relin- 
quifhed  our  all,  and  become 
thy  faithful  followers. 

29  Jefus  faid  to  them. 
There  is  no  one,  who  out  of 
a  fmcere  attachment  to  me 
and  to  the  gofpel  hath  either 
left  his  home,  his  parents, 
his  brothers,  his  wife,  his 
children  : 

30  but  who  fhall,  even  in 

the 


Chap.  xlx..  hy   L 

the  midll  of  the  {everefl:  perk- 
cutions  to  which  he  fhall  be 
expofed  in  this  life,  enjoy  that 
ferene  fatisfa£tion  and  pure 
tranfporting  felicity  in  his 
own  mind,  as  fhall  infinitely 
compenfate  for  all  the  loffes 
he  hath  fuftained  — and  who 
fliall  in  2i  future  ftate  be  railed 
to  confpicuous  and  diftin- 
guifhed  happinefs. 

§ — 31  After  this,  taking 
the  twelve  apoftles  afide,  he 
thus  Ipoke  to  them — We  are 
now  travelling  up  to  Jerufa- 
lem,  where  all  the  predidi- 
ons  of  the  ancient  prophets 
concerning  the  fon  of  man 
Ihall  be  accomplifhed. 

32  For  he  will  be  deliver- 
ed into  the  power  of  the  Ro- 
mans, be  treated  with  every 
indignity,  mocked,  infulted, 
fpit  upon, 

'2^1^  torn  with  fcourges,  and 
pubiickly  executed  — but  on 
the  third  day  he  will  be  raif- 
cd  from  the  grave. 

34  But  they  chofe  not  to 
underftand  him  —  their  pre- 
judices prevented  them  from 
comprehending  what  he  faid, 

§—35  When  he  was  near 
Jericho,  a  blind  man  who  fat 
begging  on  the  fide  of  the 
road, 

36  hearing  the  found  of  a 
prodigious  multitude  paffing 
by,  afked  the  occafion  of  fuch 
a  vaft  concourle  of  people, 

Q,']  and  being  told  that  Je- 


U   K    E.  251 

fus  of  Nazareth  was  travelling 
that  way, 

38  he  inftantly  raifed  a  ve- 
hement cry — O  Jefus  fon  of 
David  !   pity  my  condition  ! 

39  Thofe  who  were  ad- 
vancing before  the  body  of 
the  multitude  reproved  him, 
and  ordered  him  to  be  filent 
—  but  thefe  rebukes  ferved 
only  to  increafe  his  vocifera- 
tion—  heflill  repeating,  Sori 
of  David  !  pity  me  ! 

40  Jefus  then  (lopped  and 
commanded  him  to  be  brouo-ht 
to  him  — Upon  his  approach- 
ing him  he  afked  him, 

41  What  favour  he  follici- 
ted  with  fuch  earneilnefs — O 
Sir,  he  replied,  to  be  reftor- 
ed  to  my  fight ! 

42  Jefus  faid  to  him,  re- 
ceive thy  fight — thy  confi- 
dence in  my  power  hath  ef- 
feded  thy  cure ! 

43  He  immediately  faw 
every  thing  diftindly,  and 
joined  the  crowd  that  followed 
Jefus,  pouring  out  his  grate- 
ful acknowledgments  to  hea- 
ven —  Every  Ipedator  alfo  of 
this  miracle  adored  God  with 
pious  and  profound  rever- 
ence. 

CHAP.  XIX. 
I  TESUS  had  juft  pafled 
•-'  thro'  Jericho, 
2  when  a  man,  named 
Zacchcus,  one  of  the  princi- 
pal of  the  tax-gatherers,  pof- 
feiTed  of  great  opulence, 

3  being 


252 

3  being  very  defirous   to 
fee  Jefus,    but  the   immcnie 


^he  Hillory  of  Jesus        Chap,  xix*, 


the  hoiife,    flood  up  before 

the  company,  and  faid  to' Je-' 

JuiTonnding  crowds,  and  his  I  kis,  Notwithftanding  the  gc 


diminutive  Cze  rendering  his 
ardent  curiofjty  impoflible  to 
be  gratified, 

4  ran  before  on  the  public 
road,  where  he  was  to  pafs — 
and  climbed  a  fycomoretree  to 
have  a  full  view  of  his  perfon. 

5  When  Jefus  came  over- 
againft  the  place  where    he 

was — he  looked  up cal 

led  him  by  his  name  —  and 
bad  him  defcend — for  he  in- 
tended to  fpend  that  day  with 
him  at  his  houfe. 

6  The  heart  of  Zaccheus 
bounded  when  he  heard  thefe 
words — he  inflantly  defccnd- 
ed — and  entertained  him — 
penetrated  with  the  deepeft 
lenfe  of  the  great  honour  he 
had  condefcended  to  Ihow 
him. 

7  But  the  conduct  of  Jefus 
upon  this  occafion  gave  very 
heinousoffenceto  all  who  were 
prefent — who  laid  one  to  an- 
other. He  is  gone  to  dine 
with  a  perfon  of  a  moft  infa- 
mous profefilon. 

8  Zaccheus  hearing  thefe 
cenfures,:  when  they  were  in 


neral  odium  of  my  occupati- 
on,! confcicntioufly  diilribute 
half  of  my  fortunes  among  tlie 
indigent  and  neceffitous — and 
if  I  afterwards  find  that  any 
taxes  have  been  unjuftly  ex- 
aded  from  any  perfon,  I 
make  him  fourfold  reftituti- 
on^ 

9  Jefus  then  turned  to  the 
company,  and  fpeaking  of"* 
his  amiable  and  exemplary 
charader,  applauded  it  in 
Thefe  terms.  This  is  a  true 
defccndant  of  Abraham — and 
fince  he  inherits  that  Patri- 
arch's virtues,  be  ailured  that 
falvation  this  day  hath  vifited 
his  houfe. 

10  For  to  refcue  and  fave 
men  from  deftruftion  was  the 
great  defign  of  the  fon  of 
man's  coming  into  the  world. 

§ — 1 1  Being  now  advanc- 
ed within  a  little  diftancefrom 
the  capital,  and  obferving 
that  all  his  attendants  were 
now  inflamed  with  the  mofl: 
fanguine  hopes  that  the  king- 
dom of  the  Mefliah,  immedi- 
ately upon  bis  arrival  in  the 


■^  An  cxtrahrdinar)--  character  this  of  a  publican  !  who  were  a  fct  nf  men 
jnfamous  for  their  cruelty  and  opprelTion.  Another  eminent  example  of  a 
worthy  publican  we  have  in  the  Emperor  Vtfpa/lan\  father,  to  whom  Sue- 
ionzus  informs  us  th.at  the  cities  of  .^a  dedicated   ftatues   with  this    in- 


fcription  KaAwj  t-kuvMavii  To  the  honefl  publican. 
Var.  750. 

■'*  ilpcij  :tV7cr  'Kith  ngard  to  him.    See  Macknight. 


Vefpaf. 


metro- 


Chap.  xix. 


fy    L  V  K  E. 


metropolis,  would  be  ere6t- 
ed  with  the  moll  magnifi- 
cent fecular  pomp  and  fplen- 
dour  —  he  addrefled  to  them 
the  following  parabk. 

12  A  nobleman,  intending 
to  take  a  journey  into  a  dii- 
tant  country  to  folicit  the 
Emperor  to  inveft  him  v/ith 
regal  authority  over  one  of  his 
provinces : 

.13  Before  he  fet  out  upon 
his  travels,- he  called  his  ten 
fcrvants  before  him — and  di- 
vided ten  pounds  equally  a- 
mong  them — bidding  them, 
during  his  abfence,  diligent- 
ly to  improve  the  little  capi- 
tal he  entrufted  them  with, 
by  their  induftry  in  trade. 

14  No  Iboncrhad  he  quit- 
ted his  native  foil,  and  the 
defign  of  his  journey  was 
pubiickly  known ;  but  his 
fellow  citizens,  who  held  him 
in  univerfal  and  implacable 
deteftation,  immediately  dif- 
patched  an  embafly  to  the 
Emperor — letting  him  know 
how  much  they  abhorred  him, 
and  how  unwilling  the  whole 
nation  was  to  have  him  for 
their  fovereign. 

15  But  notv;ithftanding 
thefe  malicious  calumnies  and 
invectives,  he  was  confirmed 
in  the  kingdom — and  return- 
ed to  his  family,  vefted  with 
full  regal  powers — Immedi- 
ately upon  his  arrival  he  or- 
dered the  fervaius,   to  whom 


25j 

he  had  committed  the  mo- 
ney, to  come  before  him — ■ 
defirous  to  know  what  fuc- 
cefs  they  had  met  with  in 
commerce.  .,^.     » 

1 6  One  of  them  then  "^ad- 
vanced forward  and  faid— By 
the  pound,  Sir !  you  entruft- 
ed me  v/ith,  at  your  depar- 
ture, by  my  induftry  in  bu- 
finefs  I  have  accumulated  icfi. 

17  His  lord,  elated  witli 
joy,  cried  out — Amiable  cony 
dudl!  Worthy  fervant !  Thoii 
haft  abundantly  fhowed  thy 
fidelity  in  thus  diligently  im- 
proving the  little  ftock  I  com- 
mitted to  thee  —  from  this 
moment  I  conftitute  thee  go- 
vernor of  ten  cities. 

1 8  A  fecond  then  came  up 
and  faid.  From  the  pound 
you  delivered  to  me,  my  care 
and  diligence  in  commerce 
hath  enabled  me  to  acquire 
Jive. 

19  His  lord  highly  de- 
lighted with  his  condud  faid. 
As  a  reward  of  fuch  eminent 
worth,  I  will  inveft  thee  with 
the  government  of  five  cities. 

20  A  third  approached 
his  lord  and  thus  fpake  —  I 
have  brought  you  the  money 
you  gave  me  at  your  depar- 
ture—Here it  is — I  wrapped 
it  up,  and  depofited  it  in  a 
lafe  place  againft  .your  re- 
turn :  '  -  •     ri:V 

21  For  I  dreaded  your  fe- 

verity^ — knowing  you  to  be  a 

man 


254  'T^he  Hiftory 

man  of  fuch  a  ftern  and  inex- 
orable temper expelling 

great  emoluments  from  thole 
whom  you  never  fixed  in  any 
capacity  to  procure  you  any 
— and  unreafonably  demand- 
ing copious  harvefts  from 
fields  you  never  fowed. 

2  2  His  lord,  inflamed  with 
indignation  at  fo  bafe  a  con- 
duct,  fa  id  to  him Thou 

wicked  flothful  fervant  !  I 
will  refute  and  confound 
thee  upon  thine  own  prin- 
ciples —  If  you  really  knew 
me,  as  you  fay  you  did,  to 
be  a  perfon  of  fuch  a  liern 
and  auftere  temper  \  to  be 
fo  unreafonable  in  my  de- 
mands, and  fo  inexorable  in 
infilling  on  the  performance 
of  them ; 

23  Why  didft  thou  not 
then  take  care  not  to  incur 
my  refentment,  by  carefully 
improving  in  trade  the  flock 
I  committed  to  thee — that  at 
my  return  I  might  have  re- 
ceived the  capital  with  fome 
additional  profits,  and  have 
applauded  and  rewarded  thy 
diligence  ? 

24  The  prince  then  faid 
to  thofe  who  were  prefent, 
Take  that  pound  from  him 
diredlly — and  give  it  to  the 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xix'. 

perfon  who  by  his  fedulous 
application  acquired  ten. 

25  The  officers  of  jullicc 
who  were  in  waiting  faid  — 
Why  do  you.  Sir !  adjudge 
the  additional  pound  to  him 
who  was  already  poflTeiTed  of 
ten  ? 

26  The  king  anfwered, 
Becaufe  every  one  who  hath 
carefully  improved  what  hath 
been  committed  to  him  fhall 
be  rewarded  with  a  more  am- 
ple and  copious  affluence-^— 
but  he  who  hath  mifimproved 
what  was  intrufled  to  him, 
fhall  be  fatally  deprived  even 
of  what  he  originally  had. 

27  And  thofe  malicious 
and  inveterate  rebels  againft 
my  perfon  and  government, 
who  oppofed  my  advance- 
ment to  the  kingdom  with 
fuch  violence  and  malignity 

drag  them  infbantly  be- 


tore  me,  and  butcher  them 
in  my  prefence  \ 

§ — 28  Having  recited  this 
parable  he  proceeded  on  his 
journey  towards  Jerufalem. 

29  When  he  was  now  ad- 
vanced as  far  as  Bethphage 
and  Bethany  fituated  near  a 
mountain  called  the  mount 
of  Olives — Jefus  called  two 
of  his  difciples, 


*  The  perfon,  who  went  into  a  foreign  country  to  receive  a  kingdom, 
reprefents  Chrift,  who  was  invefled  with  univerfal  dc/ninion  after  his  rcfur- 
reftion.  By  the  citizens,  who  hated  him,  are  meant  the  Je-xijs — and  the 
punilhmcnts  he  inflidlcd  upon  them,  after  he  was  advanced  to  the  king- 
♦loni,  denote  the  dellrudion  of  Jerufalem. 

4  .3^  ^'"'^ 


Cliap.  xix.  by   Luke. 

30  and  gave  them  this  or- 


'^^l 


der- go  into  that  village, 

which  you  fee  dire6lly  oppo- 
fite,  and  you  will  immediate- 
ly upon  your  enterance  find  a 
young  afs  tied — unloofe  the 
rein  and  bring  it  to  me  -, 

31  and  Chould  any  perfon, 
feeing  this  adlion,  ail-c  you  the 
reafon  of  your  taking  fuch  li- 
berties, tell  him,  that  your 
mafter  hath  occafion  for  it. 

32  Having  received  this 
com.mand,  they  hailed  to  the 
village,  and  found  every  cir- 
cumftance  as  Jefus  had  men- 
tioned. 

33  The  owner  feeing  two 
flrangers  unloofmg  it  faid  to 
them.  What  bufinels  have 
you  to  take  away  the  colt  ? 

34  They  made  the  reply 
which  Jefus  had  didtated  — 
and  were  fuffered  to  depart 
without  any  farther  molefla- 
tion. 

o^c^  They  then  brought  it 

to  Jefus fpread  on  it  their 

upper  garments,  and  fet  him 
upon  it. 

'}^^  Immediately  upon  his 
mounting  it  and  advancing 
towards  the  city — his  atten- 
dants fpread  the  public  roads 
with  their  mantles. 

37  When  they  were  now 
within  a  very  little  diftance  of 
the  city,  and  were  going  to 
defcend  the  declivity  of  the 
mount  of  Olives — the  whole 
•vaft  multitude  of  his  difciples 
and  followers  pierced  the  air 


with  loud  acclamations,  and 
uttered  the  moft  rapturous 
fbrains  of  gratitude  and  praife 
to  God  for  all  the  aftonifh- 
ing  miracles  which  they  had 
feen  performed. 

38  Shouting  and  repeating 
— Blefled  is  the  great  illuftri- 
ous  king,  who  now  comes 
invefted  with  the  authority 
of  the  fupreme  Jehovah  !  — 
Hail  him,  O  ye  celeftial 
powers  !  Let  the  higheft  an- 
gelic orders  celebrate  his 
praife  1 

39  Some  of  the  Pharifees, 
who  were  among  the  crowd, 
difgufted  with  this  language, 
faid  to  him.  Great  prophet  \ 
why  do  you  not  reprove  your 
difciples  for  paying  you  fuch 
extravagant  homage  and  ho- 
nours? 

40  Jefus  replied Were 

they  to  be  filent — the  inani- 
mate creation  would  be  mi- 
raculoully  endowed  with 
fpeech,  and  utter  triumphant 
praifes  in  honour  of  hirn, 
whom  God  hath  dignified 
with  fuch  diftinguifhed  pro- 
phetic powers. 

41  When  he  faw  from  the 
mountain  the  city  lying  in 
wide  extended  profpetl:  before 
him  '  the  gufhing  tears 
ilreamed  down  his  cheeks. 

42  He  then  broke  out  into 
the  followingexclamacion — O 
thou  wretched  and  impeni- 
tent city!  How  diftinguiflied 
would  be  thy  felicity  for  ma- 
ny 


256  The  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xjTo 

ny  future  years,  if  thou  hadft  I 
improved  thole  fignal  advan- 
tages,   with   which  thou  haft 
now  been  favoured  ! But 


thou  haft  ftiown  thyfelf  to  be 
abfolutcly  incorrigible  and  ir- 
reclaimable—  and  thy  doom 
is  now  irreverfibly  fixed  ! 

43  For  the  time  will  foon 
come,  when  a  moft  numer- 
ous and  invincible  hoft  of 
thine  enemies  Ihalt  inveft 
thee, — draw  lines  of  circum- 
vallation  around  thee — and 
prefs  thee  with  the  moft 
dreadful  and  terrible  fiege. 

44  The  time  will  foon  ar- 
rive, when  thy  citizens  Ihall 
be  deftroyed  by  famine  —  be 
butchered  with  the  fword — 
and  thy  very  foundations  fo 
totally  razed,  as  not  one 
ilone  to  be  left  ftanding  up- 
on another becaufe  thou 

haft  wilfully  minmproved 
the  gracious  opportunity 
which  the  goodnels  of  God 
hath  indulged  to  thee,  and 
haft  with  infuperable  preju- 
dice reje(fted  all  the  evidences 
of  my  mifllon,  that  have 
been  exhibited  before  thee  ! 

^ — 4^  When  he  entereu 
the  temple,  he  immediately 
expelled  all  whom  he  found 
buying  and  felling  in  the 
court  of  the  Gentiles  \ 


46  telling  them  at  the  time 
he  ejeded  them,  that  God 
defigned  the  temple  ftiould 
be  appropriated  to  devotion, 
but  that  they  had  converted  it 
into  a  receptacle  of  the  moft 
mercenary  and  felf-intefefted  ■'' 
wretches.  * 

47  He   continued   every  - 
day  to  inftruft  the  people  in 
the  temple — but  the  high, 
priefts, .  the  inferior   clergy, 
and  the  principal  magift rates,  * 
exafperated  againft  him  foi* 
his  late  conduft,  unanimouf-  ^ 
ly  relolved  to  ftied  his  blood. 

48  But  were  difficulted 
when  they  came  to  deliberate 
in  what  method  they  ftiould 
execute  their  fanguinary  pur- 
pofes — becaufe  the  populace 
adored  him,  and  imbibed  his 
difcourfes  with  the  greateft 
eagernels  and  avidity  ^ 

CHAP.    XX. 

I  /^NE  day  as  he  was  in- 
^-^  ftrucling  the  people  in 
the  temple,  and  proclaiming 
the  joyful  news  of  the  fpeedy 
eredion  of  the  Mcfliah's  king- 
dom, the  high  priefts,  the  in- 
ferior clergy,  and  the  magi- 
ftrates  came  in  a  body  to 
him, 

2    and  demanded  of  him 


i>  The  crighmlxi,  very  expreflive  and  beautiful,  6^«K.p«|Mf  to.  they  bung 
on  his  lips.  There  is  the  fame  beautiful  image  in  Ovid.  When. the  C'/v- 
c'lan  generals  returned  from  Troy  and  recited  thtir  adventures,  the  poet 
fays— -Narrantis  ccnjux  pendet  ab  ore  viri.     Epiit.  i.  30.-*  ■^ 

by 


Chap.  XX. 


by    L 


by  what  authoriry  he  adbed 
in  this  manner,  and  who  it 
was  that  had  invelted  him 
with  it  ? 

3  He  faid  to  them — I  will 
firft  propofe  to  you  a  quefti- 
on,  to  which  I  defire  you 
would  return  an  explicit  an- 
fwer' 

4 — Was  the  late  baptifm 
of  John  a  divine  appoint- 
ment, or  was  it  merely  an 
human  inftitution  ? 

5  Having  deliberated  up- 
on this  queition,  they  faid 
one  to  another  If  we  tell 
him,  it  was  a  divine  inftitu- 
tion, he  will  immediately  re- 
ply. Why  did  you  not  then 
embrace  it  as  fuch  ? 

6  And  if  we  tell  him,  it 
was  folely  an  human  contri- 
vance— we  fliall  certainly  ex- 
goie  ourfelves  to  the  fury  of 
the  populace — for  they  are 
univerfally  perfuaded  that 
John  was  an  illuftrious  pro- 
phet. 

7  After  having  thus  cau- 
tioufly  debated    the    matter, 

they  laid  to  him Wc  are 

not  able  to  determine  whether 
his  baptifm  was  a  divine  or 
human  fcheme. 

8  Neither  will  I,  replied 
Jefus,  fatisfy  you  by  what 
authority  I  have  afiTumcd  my 
public  charafter. 

§ — 9  He  then  recited  to 
the  afiembled  multitude  the 
following  parable — —A  oen- 

Voi.  I. 


U   K  E.  257 

TLEMAN   planted  a  vineyard 
and  employed   a   number  of 
huibandmen  to  cultivate  and ' 
drefs  it  —  and  afterwards  fee' 
out  upon  his  travels  into  a  fo- 
reign country. 

10  When  the  vintage  ap- 
proached, he  difpatched  one 
of  his  fervants  to  the  huf- 
bandmen,  to  receive  from 
them  the  produce  of  his  new 

plantation But  he  had   no 

fooner  delivered  his  mailer's 
orders,  but  they  beat  him  in 
a  moil  unmerciful  manner, 
and  fent  him  away  empty. 

1 1  He  fent  to  them  ano- 
ther fervant — whom  they  alfo 
cruelly  beat,  and  abufed  Vv'ith 
the  moil  outrao-eous  infolence 
and  inhumanity. 

1 2  He  fen  t  a  third — whom 
they  mangled  with  wounds 
and  bruifes — and  then  turn- 
ed out  ot  the  vineyard. 

13  The  proprietor  of  the 
vineyard  receiving  thefe  re- 
peated infults,  after  deliber- 
ating for  fome  time  what  m.e- 
thods  he  Ihould  purfue,  at 
lall  faid — I  will  now  depute 
mine  only  fon,  the  objecl  of 
all  m.y  fond  affeflions — Moll 
certainly  they  will  not  dare 
to  offer  any  indignities  to  my 
fon — Surely  they  will  rever- 
ence his  character. 

14  But  on  the  firft  fight  of 
him  the  huibandmen  cried 
out  with  one  voice — This  is 
the  heir !-— Let  us  this  mo- 

S  ment 


•258  TZ;^  Hiftory 

mentadliflinate  him,  and  fcize 
on  his  inheritance  ! 

15  Accordingly  they  all 
ruflied  upon  him — dragged 
him  out  of  the  vineyard,  and 

murdered  him What  pu- 

nilhment  do  you  think  will 
the  proprietor  inflift  upon 
iuch  inhuman  and  bloody 
ruffians  ? 

16  When  he  comes,  he 
will  undoubtedly  put  thefe 
wretches  to  the  moil  dread- 
ful and  excruciating  deaths 
—  and  lett  his  vineyard  to 
others,  who  will  ferve  him 
with  greater  fidelity — Upon 
this  the  audience  laid,  God 
avert  this  dreadful  fentence 
from  ever  being  executed  ! 

1 7  He  then  fixed  his  eyes 
upon  them  and  laid — Do  you 
not  recoiled  this  remarkable 
palTage  of  fcripture  ? — "  The 
flone  which  the  workmen  re- 
^ei^ted,  is  become  the  great 
corner  ftone,  and  hath  unit- 
ed and  coniblidated  the  two 
fides  of  the  edifice. 

18  He  who  ftumbles  up- 
on this  itone  Ihall  be  terribly 
hruifed — but  he  on  whom  its 
enormous  weight  Ihall  tum- 
ble will  be  cruflied  in  a  mo- 
ment and  crumbled  to  a- 
toms  ^ 

19  The  high  priefts  and 
the  other  clergy  were  lb  ex- 
afpcrated  at  him,  knowing  he 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xx. 

levelled  this  fable  at  them, 
that  they  formed  a  refolutlon 
that  inilant  to  apprehend, 
and  by  open  force  get  him 

into  their  power but  their 

dread  of  the  people's  fury  rC' 
llraincd  them  from  carrying 
it  into  immediate  execution. 

20  Difcarding  therefore  all 
thoughts  of  open  violence, 
they  contrived  to  circumvent 
him  by  clandeftiiie  and  infidi- 
ous  arts  —  Accordingly  they 
employed  and  lent  fecret  e- 
mifi'aries  to  enfnare  him — di- 
recting them  to  cover  their  de- 
figns  upon  him  under  an  out- 
ward fcmblance  of  extraordi- 
nary piety  and  fanflity — hop- 
ing by  this  method  they  could 
betray  him  to  lay  fomething 
obnoxious  to  their  prefcnt  go- 
vernment — •  for  which  they 
might  accufe  him  as  a  traitor 
to  the  (late,  and  deliver  him 
into  the  power  of  the  Roman 
procurator. 

2 1  The  perfons,  thus  fu- 
borned,  approached  him  and 
thus  fpoke — lUuftrious  pro- 
phet !  we  are  perfuaded  that 
you  have  a  confcientious  re- 
gard for  truth — that  no  par- 
tiality or  fear  of  man  can  ever 
induce  you  to  facrifice  duty 
— and  that  in  finccrity  and 
plainnefs  you  communicate 
to  men  the  dictates  of  infalli- 
ble wifdom. 


c  Refcmng  to  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalcm. 


2  2  The 


Chap.  XX. 


by    L 


2  2  The  veneration  we 
have  for  this-  your  charafter 
feath  induced  us  to  requeft 
your   Tentiments    coneerning 

this  queftion -Is  it  lawful 

for  the  Jews  to  pay  tribute  to 
the  Romans,  or  not  ? 

23  Jefus  confcious  of  their 
wicked  fubtilty  and  diffimu- 
lation  faid  to  them — Why  do 
you  praftife  fuch  infidious 
arts  to  feduce  me  into  dan- 
ger ? 

24  Show  me  the  coin  that 

is  collefled Whofe  head 

and  legend  is  this  ? — They 
faid,  C^far's. 

25  He  anfwered — Pay  to 
the  Emperor  what  he  lawful- 
ly claims,  and  to  God  the 
duties  he  requires. 

26  This  reply  entirely  dif- 
concerted  and  covered  them 

with  confufion it  excited 

their  amazement  at  his  faga- 
city  and  penesration,  and 
awed  them  into  a  profound 
filence — Nor  were  they  able  to 
failen  on  any  exprefiion  what- 
ever that  he  occafionally  drop- 
ped in  his  public  difcourfes. 

§ — 27  After  this  fome  of 
the  Sadducees,  a  Jewilh  fed: 
who  deny  a  future  ftate,  came 
and  propofed  this  q\icftion. 

28  Great  teacher  !  our  il- 
luftrious  leo-iflator  hath  ena6l- 
ed  this  law — If  a  man  marry, 
die,  and  leave  no  children,  his 
brother  fliall  efpoufe  his  wi- 
dow, in  order  that  the  name 


U   K   E.  259 

and  family  of  the  dcccafed 
may  not  be  extinct, 
.  29  Now  there  happened 
once  amongft  us  this  fingular 
inftance — -There  were  leven 
brothers — theeldeft  of  whom 
married,  and  died  without 
children. 

30  The  fecond  brother  ef- 
poufed  his  v/idow,  and  he 
too  died  childlefs. 

31  The  third  aUb — and  all 
the  feven  by  a  premature 
death. 

32  So  that  the  woman  fur- 
vived  them  all. 

33  What  we  therefore  de- 
fire  you  to  Iblve  is  this  —- — 
Which  of  the  feven  brothers 
Ihall  have  this  woman  in  a 
future  ftate  } 

34  Jefus  anfwered — In  the 
prefent  life  God  ordained 
marriage  to  perpetuate  the 
human  race,  and  to  fupply 
the  devaftations  that  death 
makes  amons;  mankind. 

'i^c^  But  the  race  of  thofe 
who  are  deemed  worthy  to 
be  introduced  into  the  con- 
fummate  blelfedneis  ot  a  fu- 
ture ftate,  is  no  longer  pro- 
pagated. 

36  The  neceffity  of  marri- 
age is  precluded — for  death 
makes  no  ravages  in  thofe 
happy  abodes — ail  the  inha- 
bitants are  endowed  v/ith  im- 
mortality— and  the  fpirits  of 
good  men,  v;ho  are  blelTed 
with  a  glorious  reiurrtclion, 
S  2  are 


26o 

arc  pure  and  refined  intelli- 
gences, of  a  nature  congeni- 
al with  the  heavenly  angels. 

37  And  moreover  that  a 
future  ftate  is  no  fi6lion  is 
apparent  from  thofe  words 
Mofes  heard  pronounced 
from  the  bufli — I  am  the  God 
■of  Abraham,  the  God  of  I- 
^ac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob. 
"  38  God  is  not  the  gover- 
nor of  dead  infenfible  matter, 
"but  of  living  and  confcious 
inrelligcnce. 

39  .  When  fome  of  the 
Scribes  heard  thefe  replies, 
they  faid— Wife  teacher  !  the 
anhvers  you  have  returned, 
are  j^tisfaftory  and  juft. 
."40  From  this  time,  they 
thro'  fear  entirely  defilled 
from  propofing  any  move 
queries  of  this  nature  to  h.im. 

§ — 41  Aftir  this  Jelus 
jh  his  turn  propofed  to  them 
*the  following  queftion — On 
,what  foundation  are  their 
Sentiments  fupported,  v,ho 
.maintain  that  the  Meffiah 
'mull  be  the  fon  of  David, 

42  when  David  liinilelf  in 
the  Pfalms  exprcfsly  fays, 
-*'  The  fupreme  Jeliovah  laid 
^to  ray  lord.  Sit  tiiou  at  my 
right  hand, 

'  43  'till  I  have  totally  fub- 
jefted  all  thy  foes  to  thy  do- 
minion." 
^1'   44  David  himfelf,  you  fee, 
"m  this  palTage  calls  the  Mef- 


T6e  Hiflory  0/'  J  e  s  u  s        Chap,  xxi 


fiah  his  lord — in  what  fenfe 
therefore  is  he  his  fon  ? 

§ — 45  After  this  in  the 
audience  of  the  whole  mul- 
titude he  laid  to  his  difciples, 

46  Be  cautious  of  imitat- 
ing the  manners  and  morals 
of  the  Scribes — who  afle6l  to 
(Irut  about  in  pubhc  in  long 
flowing  gowns — who  are  lo 
intoxicated  with  the  lervile 
homage  that  is  paid,  them  by 

fuperftitious  crowds and 

whole  vanity  is  effectually  gra- 
tified when  they  can  fecure  the 
bell  feats  in  places  of  religious 
worfnip,  and  the  moft  ho- 
nourable places  at  all  public 
entertainments.  -'iJ 

47  Who  with  unfe&lirtg 
cruelty  deprive  the  widow 
and  orphan  of  their  juil  pro- 
perty— — and  yet  cover  rliis 
mercilcfsopprefiion  and  wick- 
cdnefs  with  a  rnalk  of  moll 
rapturous  and  cxtraoixlinary 
devotion — Upon  thele-  livpo- 
crites  God  will  infliit  the  aioft 
dreadtul  punidim.ents.    "    '• 

C  H  ^  P.  XXL 

H ILE  he  was  in  the 
temple,  he  obferv- 
ed  how  the  rich  came  and 
threw  their  charitable  contri- 
butions into  the  public  trea- 
fury,  that  was  kept  there. 

2  Among  others  he  faw  a 
poor  widow  come  and  put  in 

two 


Cfaap.'xxi.  by   L 

two  Imall  pieces  of  money, 
amounting  in  value  only  to  a 
farthing. 

f^;^. Upon  obferving  this,  he 
faid  to  thole  who  were  pre- 
ient- — I  afTure  you  that  poor 
woman  hath  done  a  greater 
ad  of  charity  than  all  who 
have  hitherto  contributed. 

4  For  all  the  others  have 
given  but  a  very  inconfider- 
able  proportion  out  of  their 
laro;e  fortunes — but  this  in- 
dio-ent  charitable  creature 
hath  chearfully  thrown  in  all 
that  fhe  had  in  the  world. 

§ — 5  Some  perfons  hap- 
pening to  fpeak  of  the  gran- 
deur of  the  temple,  and  ex- 
prefling  their  admiration  of 
the  large  and  magnificent 
ftones  with  which  it  had  been 
erected,  and  the  many  pious 
dedicated  "  ofterings  with 
which  it  was  adorned  and  em- 
bcliifhed — he  replied, 

6  The  time  is  comins;  when 
all  this  fuperb  and  Itately 
ftrufture  fliall  be  *io  entirely 
demolifhed,  and  be  convert- 
ed into  fuch  a  confufed  heap 
of  ruins,  that  there  lliall  not 


U   K   E.  261 

be  left  one  flone  ftanding  up- 
on another. 

7  They  an<:ed  him,  when 
this  dreadful  calamity  would 
happen — and  from  what  cir- 
cumftances  they  might  ^be  a- 
ble  to  prognofticate  itsf  ap- 
proach. 4.      /  , 

8  Jefus  faid  to  th^ra-^^ 
Take  care  of  being  fe'ddced 
into  fatal  errors  —  for  sreac 
numbers  of  impollOrs  Avill 
publickly  appear  and  aflume 
my  character,  making  the 
moft  folemn  declarations, 
that  they  are  the  Melnah  --rr 
But  the  time  of  the  irrupti- 
on of  thefe  dire   miferies  is 

not  far  diftant -Pay  not 

therefore  their  impudent  pre- 
tenfions  the  lead  credit,  nor 
luffer  yourfelves  to  be  impof- 
ed  upon  by  anyoftheirfrauds. 

9  And  when  you  hear  of 
bloody  wars  and  public  cala- 
mities, let  not  thefe  reports 
llrike  you  with  terrour' — For 
mankind  will  be  harraffed 
with  thefe  dreadful  evils  be- 
fore the  deftru6lion  of  this 
city  and  temple  enfue. 

10  One  country,  he  pro- 


"*  At'*OMw«t  the  word  here  ufed  by  St.  Luke  is  univerfally  ufed  to  fignify 
voti-ve  oJJ'erings  dedicated  by  religious  votaries,  and  placed,  (generally 
hu7ig  up)  in  temples  as  telHmonies  of  tlieir  gratitude,  yjvauv  kcia  «p- 
yv^oy  avaQ;}uetr(t)v.  Xeno/)/.'.  Hellen.  Lib.  6.  p.  308.  Edit.  Bajll.  Gr. 
"  They  unanimoufly  refolved  to  fend  a  golden  cup  to  Dc///'/— but  there 
was  a  great  fcarcity  of  gold  in  the  city — the  ladies  therefore  contributed 
all  the  gold  they  had  about  their  perfons  «/<  -^  cf-'aQifrot."  Plutarch  Ca- 
mil.  241.  2v^K.a9i«po)a-s  to  etvebBMUi/.  ibid.  p.  242.  Eti.  Gr.  Steph.  He 
came  to  burn  the  temples  and  the  votive  ofFerirt-gs,  N'aaf  Ttv^coijuv  haSs 
jtaj.«tQr?^«tT«.     Sophocl.  Antig.  zc)2. 

S  3  ceeded, 


262 


ne  Hiiloiy  o/"  Jesus 


ceecied,  fhall  commence  hofti- 
litics  agiinft  another  —  one 
kingdom  invade  and  depopu- 
late anotr  er. 

1 1  Several  regions  alfo 
wiU'  be  fnook  by  terrible 
earthquakes,  be  intefted  with 
famine  and  peftilence,  or  in- 
timidated by  many  friglitful  | 
and  horrible  phsenomena  in  \ 
the  ils-y. 

1 2  Bnt  before  thefe  dire  ca- 
lamities happen, the  worki  will 
puiTue  you  with  implacable 
hatred,  and  harrafs  you  with 
the  moft  cruel  perfecutions — 
y.ou  Will  be  ibourged  with  un- 
relenting and  unfeeling  rage 
in  their  pub^lic  aiiemblies — 
you  Will  be  confined  in  dun- 
geons, and  be  dragged  be- 
fore governours  and  princes. 
T—  In  all  thefe  evils  you  will 
be  involved  for  your  inviol- 
able attachment  to  my  reli- 
gion. 

11^  But  your  being  brought 
before  thefe  auguft  and  dig- 
nified perfonages  will  afford 
you  an  opportunity  of  pub- 
lickly  vindicating  and  de- 
fending your  principles  and 
profelTion. 

14  And  remember  in  fuch 
an  exigency  not  to  be  previ- 
pufly  diftreffed  with  anxious 
and  gloomy  thoughts,  What 
apology  you  iliall  offer. 

15  For  I  will  in  the  crius 
^cif  your  danger  eaalilc  you  to 


Cliap,  xxi. 

fpeak  v/ith  fuch  undaunted 
freedom,  and  infpire  you  with 
fuch  eloquence  and  wifdom, 
as  fhall  refute  all  the  fubtil- 
ties  of  your  opponents,  and 
awe  them  into  confufioH  and 
filence. 

i6  Such  an  implacable 
enmity  will  be  conceived  a- 
gainft  your  profefTion,  tliat 
parents,  brothers,  relations, 
friends  ftiall  betray  one  an- 
other with  bafe  and  unfeeling 
perfidy,  and  embrue  their 
hands  in  one  anothers  blood. 

J  7  For  on  account  of  your 
principles  you  will  be  held 
in  almofl  univerfal  abhor- 
rence, 

18  But  all  their  virulent 
malice  fliall  not  be  able  to 
hurt  an  hair  of  your  head. 

19  Let  not  the  moft  im- 
minent dangers  therefore  dif- 
turb  your  mental  tranquillity 
and  peace — for  God  will  in- 
terpofe  and  refcue  you  from 
them. 

20  When  you  fee  a  nu- 
merous  encamped    hoil    in- 

velt  the  metropolis rthen 

conclude  that  its  final  deftruc- 
tion  will  fpecdily  enfue. 

2 1  Then  let  the  Chriftians 
who  are  in  the  adjacent  plains 
ftee  for  fafety  to  the  moun- 
tains—  Let  thofe  who  are  in 
the  city  make  their  efcape 
out  of  it  —  and  let  not  thole 
who  are  then  in  the  country 


Chap.  xxi.  hy    L 

leek  .a  refuge  from  the  ene- 
my within  its  w^alls. 
.  1.  2  2  For  then  will  the  bolts 
of  divine  vencreance  be  hurl- 
ed  upon  this  devoted  city  — 
and  all  the  predidions  of  the 
antient  prophets  concerning 
its  dellfuclion  be  amply  ful- 
filled. 

23  Deplorable  will  be  the 
fate  of  thole  women,  whofe 
flight  will  then  be  prevented  by 
advanced  pregnancy,  or  the 
fuckling  of  infants  —  for  the 
whole  land  of  Judsea  will  then 
be  opprelfed  by  the  moil 
dreadful  and  fhocking  cala- 
mities. 

24  Its  inhabitants  iliall  be 
miferably  maffacred,  or  fold 
for  flaves  and  difperfed  into 
every  province  of  the  Roman 
empire — and  heathens  fhall 
trample  and  infult  over  the 
ruins  of  Jerufalem,  'till  their 
period,  fixed  in  the  divine 
decree,  is  completed. 

25  In  the  heavens  will  then 
appear  dreadful  prodigies, 
which  will  affe6t  the  fun, 
moon,  and  ftars  in  an  amaz- 
ing manner  —  on  the  earth 
various  countries  will  be  leiz- 
ed  with  dreadful  alarms  and 
pannic  terrors  —  and  in  the 
fea^  the  waves  ''  will  be  un- 


U   K   E.  263 

commonly  agitated,  roar  with 
unufual  vehemence  and  loud- 
nelb,  and  lafh  the  fhores  with 
horrid  rage  and  violence. 

26  Fright,  terrour,  and 
amazement  will  freeze  the 
hearts  of  thofe  who  are  fpec- 
tators  of  thefe  phienomena — 
and  every  one  will  fhudder 
with  fear  and  horrour,  when 
they  brood  over  the  fad  pro- 
fpe6l  of  thofe  impending  ca- 
lamities which  thefe  dire  pro- 
digies indicate  —  for  all  the 
powers  of  heaven  will  then  be 
(haken  with  the  moft  violent 
convulfions. 

27  Then  fiiall  the  Mefilah 
be  feen  fitting  on  a  cloud, 
arrayed  in  matchlefs  glory, 
and  triumphing  in  the  moft 
magnificent  pomp. 

28  When  you  fee  all  thefe 
circumitances  concur,  which 
I  have  now  particularized  — 
then  let  your  hearts  be  dilat- 
ed with  facred  rapture  and 
exultation,  for  your  complete 
deliverance  from  the  Jewifh 
perfecutions  will  then  fpcedi- 
ly  enfue. 

29  He  fhowed  them  in  the 
following  figurative  repre- 
fenration,  with  what  certain- 
ty, from  thefe  previous  figns, 
they  might  infer  the  fubie- 


••  The  word  <7o.\w  is  no  where  ufed  in  the  Tifiament  but  here,     It  often 

occurs  in  ^z  greek  poets.     It  fignihes  a  fwollen  wave. 


K(tVa,KiiiJ>JffcH    KAC^ 


Bv^iuv  er'  »p'   el  A  T2  ^oH'iiS  ca.Kd.     Oed.  ^jr.  24, 


quenf 


26?^ 


'The  Hidory  i?/  J  E  s  u  s       Cliap.  xsii^' 


quent  cataftrophe — — Every 
tree,  the  fig-tree  in  particu- 
lar, reads  you  uleful  inftruc- 
tion  with  regard  to  this  great 
event.  ' 

30  For  when  it  puts  out 
fender  fhoots  and  opening 
leaves,  you  with  rifing  plea- 
fure  conclude  the  approach 
of  fummer. 

31  In  like  manner,  when 
you  remark  thefe  feveral  phas- 
nomena  which  I  havediftin(fl:- 
ly  mentioned — infer  that  the 
kingdom  of  the  MefTiah  will 
fpeedily  be  erefted  on  the 
ruins  of  this  impenitent  na- 
tion, o'hl   Ji. 

32  Let  me  afTure  you,  that 
the  prefent  race  of  men  will 
not  be  defunft,  before  all 
thefe  my  predidions  be  fully 
accomplifhed. 

'2,-i,  Sooner  jfliall  heaven  and 
earth  be  annihilated,  than  my 
words  not  be  verified. 
3  34  Exercife  therefore  a  cau- 
tious and  conflant  vigilance 
over  your  hearts,  left  the  fud- 
den  and  dreadful  irruption  of 
thel'e  calamities  furprife  you 
buried  in  fenfuality  and  de- 
bauchery, and  funk  in  ava- 
rice and  worldly-minded nefs. 

35  For,  like  an  unfufpedt- 
cd  ambufh,  it  will  fnddcnly 
rufh  upon  all  the  land  of  Ju- 
daea, and  overwhelm  its  inha- 


bitants in  one  fatal  and  gene- 
ral deftrnftion  ^ 

36  Ke  ye  therefore  ever 
fortified  with  caution  and 
watchfulnefs  —  and  intercede 
with  God  by  fervent:  pray- 
er, that  he- would  not  fufier 
you  to  be  involved  in  thefe 
dreadful  fcenes  of  impending 
mifery  —  but  of  his  mercy 
deign  to  vindicate  you  into 
fafety  and  happinefs. 

§ — 37  In  the  day-time 
Jefus  publickly  inflruded 
the  people  in  the  temple 
— in  the  evening  he  retired 
to  the  mount  of  Olives. 

38  The  people  therefore 
early  every  morning  reforted 
to  the  temple  to  hear  his  dif- 
courfcs.n.7oixn-  jn3   .om  Ji.rij 

CHAP,  xxir?^,.,^; 

I   '"T^HE    grand     folemn 
-■'     feftival   of  the  Jews, 
called  the  pallbver,  was  now 
very  near. 

2  And  at  this  time  there 
was  a  general  council  conven- 
ed—in which  the  high  priefts 
and  the  body  of  the  clergy 
concerted  various  meaiiircs 
how  they  might  murder  him 
— hut  they  dreaded  the  fury 
of  the  populace. 

3  \\  was  now  that  Judas 
Ifcariot,  one  of  the  twelve  a- 
poftles,  was  infligated  by  the 


«  Alluding  to  the  manner  ui  which  Jerufftlem  was  .furprizc(J  by. the  Rc- 
jnafis—'n  being  the  time  of  the  pajftmer,  when  prodigious  rumbcrs  (tbvn. 
all  partb  Qijudaa  were  cooped  in  the  city,  and  moft  miferably  periiTied.' ' 
^Qii£.ir.l.'jL  '  diabolical 


Chap.  xxir. 


ly   L 


diabolicral  wick^dnefs  •  and 
malignity  of  his  heart  to  be- 
tray him 'by  an  a6t  of  the-baf- 
cft  perfidy.    ■        •         - -ri^no-; 

:  4"  Having  formed  ^  this 
black  defio-n  he  ftole  in  a 
clandeftine  manner  from  the 
body  of  the  difciples  -^—  and 
had  an  interview  with  the 
high  priefts  and  the  officers 
of  their  guards,  in  which  he 
promifed  to  deliver  him  into 
their  pov/er. 

-  5  An  offer  fo  unexpedled 
tranfported  them  with  joy  — 
and  they  agreed  to  give  him 
a'fum  of  money  to  reward 
his  fervices. 

^6  To  this  propofal  he 
<:hearfully  aflented: — and  from 
that  moment  anxioufly  iludi- 
ed  to  feize  the  mod  favour- 
able opportunity,  when  the 
crowds  were  difperfed,of  put- 
,ting  him  into  their  hands. 

§ — 7  The  day  being  now 
arrived  on  which  it  was  cuf- 
tomary  to  flay  the  pafchal 
lamb, 

?  8  he  called  Peter  and  John 
and  faid  to  them.  Go  into 
the  city  and  make  prepara- 
tions for  our  celebrating  the 
prefent  folemnity  and  eating 
the  pafchal  kipper. 
>  9  They  faid  to  htm.  In 
what  houfe  would  you  have 
us  make  thefe  preparations  ? 
lo  He  anfwered — Imme- 
diately on  your  entrance  into 
the  city.  you-w.i|]  wot  a  man 

*L.5Jiod£;b 


U  K   E.  265 

carrying  a  pitcher  of  water — 
follow  him  into  the  houfe, 
where  you  fee  him  enter, 

11  and  tell  the  peribn  that 
your  mafter  defires  he  would 
accommodatehim  with  a  room 
in  which  to  eat  the  pafchal 
lamb  v^ith  his  difciples. 

12  And  he  will  immedi- 
ately fhow  you  into  a  large 
apartment,  fpread  with  a  car- 
pet— Here  make  the  neceffa- 
ry  preparations. 

1 3  The  two  difciples  hav- 
ing received  thefe  orders  went 
into  the  city,  and  found  eve- 
ry circumftance  exadViy  corr 
refpond  to  what  Jefus  had 
told  them  — ■  They  therefore 
made  every  thing  ready  a- 
gainft  his  coming. 

14  At  the  ufual  time  Je- 
fus and  his  twelve  difciples  fat 
down  to  eat  the  pafchal  fup- 
per. 

1 5  As  th^y  were  at  tabic 
Jefus  laid  to  them — I  have 
been  extremely  delirous  to 
eat  this  palTover  along  with 
you,  before  I  fuffer : 

16  For  I  afllire  you  this 
is  the  laft  palTover  I  Ihall  ever 
celebrate  with  you  before  the 
Meffiah's  kingdom  ibe  efta- 
blilhed.      -^      •  •    "'o'■^i   ^^ 

1 7  He  then  took  the  cup, 
and  after  folemnly  offering  up 
his  gratitude  to  God,  he  faid. 
Take  and  hand  this  one  to 

.ainothef. 

.18  JFor  I  make  this  folemn 
declaratioa 


266 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus       Chap.  xxii. 


declaration  to  you  all.  That 
1  fliall  not  tafte  any  more  wine 
'till  the  ^  time  of  the  eredion 
of  the  Meffiah's  kingdom. 

19  He  then  took  bread, 
and  after  devoutly  blefling 
God,  he  broke  and  diftri- 
buted  it  among  them  all,  fay- 
ing— This  figuratively  repre- 
fencs  my  body,  which  is  vo- 
luntarily furrendered  to  be 
broken  on  the  crofs  to  pro- 
more  the  intereils  of  mankind 
— For  the  future  celebrate 
this  inftitution  in  commemo- 
ration of  my  death. 

20  After  they  had  eat  the 
palchal  lamb  he  took  the 
cup,  and  after  having  paid 
the  fame  devout  acknow- 
ledgements to  God,  laid  — 
This    wine     reprefents     the 

fliedding  of  my   blood by 

theeffufion  of  which  the  new 
covenant  will  be  fealed  and 
ratified,  and  the  benefit  of 
mankind  be  fublerved. 

2 1  But  behold  !  that  very 
perlbn,  who  intends  by  the 
blackeft  perfidy  to  furrender 
me  into  the  pov/er  of  my  e- 
nemies,  is  now  fitting  with  mc 
at  table. 

22  The  iow  of  man  indeed 
will  make  that  exit,  which 
hath  been  fixed  in  the  divine 

deciee— but   woe  to  that 

wretch  who  is  treacheroufly 
acceffarv  to  his  murder. 


23  Alarmed  at  this  decla- 
ration, they  began  with  the 
moft  painful  anxiety  to  afk 
one  another.  Who  it  was  a- 
mong  them  that  could  be  ca- 
pable of  fuch  atrocious  and 
execrable  bafenefs. 

§ — 24  There  was  alfo  a 
warm  debate  and  coatention 
agitated  among  them,  Wiiich 
or  them  fhoukl  be  advanced 
to  the  highcft  honours  in  that 
magnificent  kingdom  they 
judged  he  was  going  to  erccl. 

25  Jefus  perceiving  their 
ambitious  views  faid  to  them 
— Powerful  monarchs  among 
the  Heathens  rule  their  fub- 
jefts  with  an  abfolute  fway, 
and  their  fovereigp  princes 
are  by  crowds  of  fervile  fyco- 
phants  and  flatterers  honour- 
ed with  the  moll  vain,  extra- 
vagant and  unmerited  titles. 

26  But  fuch  a  lull:  of  do- 
mination and  fondnefs  of 
power  fliall  never  pollefs  vour 
bofoms  —  for  among  you  he 
who  is  the  humblejt  iliall  be  the 
ireatcjl^  and  the  moll  condc- 
fending  fiiail  be  the  moll  ex- 
alted. 

27  For  which  is  greatefl 
— the  perfon  who  reclines  in 
eafe  on  his  couch,  or  he  who 
waits  obfervant  on  his  nod  } 
— Is  notthe/(?r»2(?r,  and  yet  I 
iiavc  coaverfed  aniong  y.ou  in 
the  capacity  of  the  latter. 

^  Meaning — not  till  after  bis  rfjuyre^ion,  ixiJ?en  his  kingdom   properly 
conntienccci.  •    • 

28  You- 


Chap.  xxii.  'by    L 

28    You    have    been    my  | 
faithful  and  infeparable  com- 
panions in  all  the  forrowsand 
trials  with  which  I  have  con- 
.fiided. 

2.9  In  recompenfe  there- 
fore of  your  diftinguifhed  fi- 
delity, fince  my  heavenly 
father  hath  by  iolemn  corn- 
pad  awarded  to  me  a  king- 
dorh, 

30  In  like  manner  do  I 
by  an  irreverfible  covenant 
ratify  and  confirm  to  you  the 
moft  exalted  and  confpicuous 
honours  in  this  kingdom — 
and  magnificent  thrones  fhall 
be  eredled  for  you  on  which 
you  fhall  pafs  fentence  on  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael. 

31  Jefus  then  faid  to  Pe- 
ter, Simon  !  Simon  !  a  great 
trial  is  approaching  in  which 
the  fidelity  of  you  my  Apof- 
tles  will  be  brought  to  a  fe- 
■vere  teft. 

32  But  I  have  prayed  for 
thee  in  particular,  that  thy 
fincerity  may  be  maintained 
inviolate.  —  When  thou  art 
returned  to  thy  duty  remem- 
ber to  encourage  and  animate 
thy  brethren  by  a  fuperiour 
fortitude  and  zeal  in  my 
caufe. 

33  Peter  faid  to  him,  Dif- 
truft  not  my  fidelity— — I  am 
this   moment  prepared  with 


U    K   E.  267 

chearfulnefs  to  attend  tliee  to 
prifon  or  to  death. 

3.4  Jefus  replied,  I  afliare 
thee  this  very  night  before 
the  cock  crow  thou  wilt  three 
feveral  times  folemnly  deny 
that  thou  ever  knew  me. 

§ — 35  He  then  faid  to  his 
diiciples  —  When  I  commii^ 
iioned  you  to  preach  in  the 
towns  of  Judasa,  andfent  you 
on  this  expedition  without  mo- 
ney and  without  provifions— ^ 
were  you  ever  deftitute  of  the 
common  neceffaries  of  life  ? 
—  They  laid  they  ;had  never 
wanted  any  thing. 

36  But  for  the  future^  Je- 
fus faid  to  them,  fuch  are  the 
diftreffes  and  perfecution  in 
which  you  will  be  involved, 
that  he  that  hath  money,  let 
him  take  it  with  him-  -he 
that  hath  none,  let  him  fell 
his  clothes  and  buy  a  fword. 

2,"]  For  be  affured  that  with 
regard  to  myfelf  that  predic- 
tion of  the  prophet  is  imme- 
diately going  to  be  accomp- 
lifhed,  ''He  made  his  exit  con- 
founded with  the  wicked"  — 
For  the  period  of  my  life  is 
now  completed. 

38  They  underftanding  the 
2bovQ  figurative  difcourfe  lite- 
rally^ faid  to  him — We  have 
two  fwords  amono;  us- — He 
faid,  They  are  fufficients. 

s  In  the  ahovt  fig7iraii've  difcourfe  yt/iis  intimated  to  them  the  miferies 
and  periccutions  tliey  wer«  for  the  future  to  ftruggle  with — But  they  un- 
4erftood  him  literally,  by  the  g::i:J}isn  they  propofed  to  hiiii. 

4  §-- 


:68 


.'.§ — .^g  After  this  he  left 
tht  city  and  retired,  as  uiual, 
io  the  mount  of  Olives,  ac- 
companied by  his  difciples. 

40  Arriving  at  the  place  , 
he  faid  to  them — Earnellly 
beg  of  God  that  in  the  -great 
approaching   trial   you   may 
not  be  feduced  into  fin. 

41  He  then  fcparated  frorri 
them  about  the  diftance  of  a 
ftone's  caft,  fell  on  his  knees, 
and  with  devout  fervency  ut- 
tered this  prayer — 
--  42  Merciful  father  \  O 
that  thou  wouldcft  not  fuffer 
ihe  dreadful  ftorm  to  break 
crer  my  head  \ — But  I  ciieck 

myfelf Not  my  will,  but 

thine  be  done  ! 
^'  43  Immediately  his  attend- 
ants faw an  angel  defcend  from 
heaven  to  animate  and  con- 
fole  him,  -*ri3  J^i  i>3tnil  ')y.i\l 

44  for  he  prayed  with  ar- 
dent and  intenfe  fervour,  be- 
ing overwhelmed  in  an  ago- 
ny of  diftrefs- the  inward 

fenfations  he  now  felt  being 
fo  dreadfully  acute  and  pain- 
ful th^t  drops  of  fweat  trick- 
led down  his  face  and  fell  up- 
on the  ground,  like  ^  large 
globules  of  blood. 

45  He  then  rofe  from  his 
Icnees  and  came  to  his  difci- 
ples—  whom  he  found  in  a 
profound  deep — over-power- 


T6e  Hiftory  of  J esvs       Chap.  xxli. 

ed  by  the  miferies  they .  faw 
him  indure. 

46    He  awoke  them  and 


faid —Why  do  you  fuffer 

yourlelvcs  to  be  overwhelnv- 
ed  with  fleep  in  fuch  a  crifis 
— Earneftly  implore  the  Al- 
mighty that  you  may  not  in 
tlie  enfuing  trial  be  feduccd 
into  fin. 

47  While  he  was  fpeaking 
a  great  mob  appeared  —  be- 
fore whom  Judas  advanced 
forv/ard  and  approached  Je- 
fus  10  fa  lute  him — that  being 
the  fignal  he  had  agreed  up- 
on to  pive  them. 

48  jefus  faid  to  him — Ju- 
das, doft  thou  cover  thy  trea- 
ciicrous  ci'-figns  againlt  nvy 
life  under  the  hypocritical 
femblance  of  affeftion  and 
love  ? 

49  When  his  attendants 
faw  the  violcMice   that  would 

enfue,  they  laid  to  him 

Sir  1  fhall  we  repel  them  with 
the  fword  ? 

50  One  of  them  drew  his 
fword — ftruck  a  flave  belongr 
ing  to  the  high  prieil,  and  cut 
off  his  right  car. 

5 1  Jefus  faid  to  the  mob  that 
furrounded  him — Suffer  me 
to  go  to  the  perlon  that  is 
wounded — He  went,  touch- 
ed and  healed  him. 

52  After  this  Jefus  faid  to 

tt.>  T]^e  evangelift  only  ufes  this  as  a  Jimle  to  reprefent  to  his  reader 
1^  profufenefs  of  his  fweat— not  that  it  was  real  blood,  ox  that  there  was 
<r;y  l/ood  at  all  vifibly  mingled  with  it. 

2  t'le 


Chap,  xxii; 


the  high  priefts,  to  the  offi- 
cers who  guarded  the  tern - 
|ile',  and  to  the  magiftrates, 
who  had  now  joined -the  mob 
who  had  feized  him  —  Why 
did  you  come  armed  v/ith 
clubs  and  iwords  to  appre- 
hersd  me,  hke  a  thief,  in  this 
clandeftine  manner  ? 

g^  You  know  that  I  was 

every  day  pubHckly  inftrucl- 

ingthe  people  in  the  temple 

: yet  you  laid  no  violent 

hands  upon  me — But  you  will 
now  be  fuffereci  to  prevail, 
and  to  execute  your  infernal 
defigns  againft  my  life. 

§ — 54  Those  who  appre- 
hended Jefus  dragged  him 
before  the  high  prieft — Peter 
toliowed  the  company  at  a 
diftance,  and  went  atter  them 
into  the  houfe, 

55  and  the  highpriefts  fer- 
::vants  lighting  a  fire  in  the 
hall^  he  fat  down  among 
them. 

56  Here  one  of  the  fervant 
maids  fixed  her  eyes  upon 
hiin:as:  he  was  warming  him- 
felf,  and  faid  to  thole  who 
were  prcfent — This  man  was 
one  of  the  companions  of  Je- 
iftrs.  ■;3i::/:'  —::•;; 
el  5^7  He:  ^declared  in  the 
moli  folemn  manner,  that  he 
did  not  fo  much  as  perfon- 
ally  know  him. 


Sy  Luke.  269 

58  A  little  after,  another 
peribn  looking  earneftly  at 
him,  faid.  Thou  art  one  of 
his  diicipies — He  peremptori- 
ly denied  :hat  he  ever  was. 

59  About  an  hour  after, 
another  faw  him  and  aflerted 
in  the  moft  pofitive  terms, 
that  he  certainly  was  one  of 
his  followers — for  he  was  un- 
doubtedly a  Galilasan. 

60  Peter  faid  — —  I  never 
had  any  connexions  with  him 

—  nor  do  I  know  what  you 

mean That  moment  the 

cock  crowed,    /r//  uivi^  .p/^ 

61  Jefus  turned  and  fixdl 
his  eyes  upon  Peter — That 
look  pierced  him  andinllant- 
ly  brought  to  his  remembrance 
what  Jeius  had  lately  told  him 
— That  before  the  cock  crow- 
ed, he  Ihould  have  denied 
three  times  in  the  moft  fo- 
lemn terms  that  he  ever  had 
known  him.  - 

62  The  thought  ftung 
him  with  remorfe — and  going 
out,  he  burft  into  a  flood  of 
bitter  tears. 

§ — 6^  In  the  mean  time 
the  perlbns  who  ftood  about 
Jefus  offered  him  every  in- 
fult  and  indignity. 
64They  firil  hoodwinked  him 
-—and  then  ftruck  him  on  the 
face,  faying  at  the  fame  time 

—  O  thou  who  art  fo  emi- 


'"  *  What  we  tranflate,  in  Kir^s  and  ChronirJes,  porters  ofthetmpky  fliould 
have"  been  rendered  ^a<?r^j  of  the  temple.     Oi  the  o^itrs  of  thefe  the  c- 


vangelill  here  fpeaks. 


nentlv 


270 


nently  endowed  with  pr-j- 
phedc  gifts,  tell  the  perfon's 
name  who  llruck  you  ! 

65  With  many  other  cru- 
elties of  this  nature  they  a- 
btiled  him  —  branding  him 
with  the  moft  odious  names, 
and  pouring  upon  him  all 
the  contumely^  infult  and  ri- 
dicule, they  could  invent. 

§ — 66  Very  early  in  the 
morning,  the  high  priefts,  the 
inferlour  clergy,  and  the  ma- 
giftrates  met  in  council— — 
and  Jefus  was  ordered  to  be 
brought  before  them. 

67  The  aifembly  then  faid 
to  him,  Tell  us  explicitly  — 
Art  thou  the  Meffiah  ? — Je- 
fus replied — If  I  Ihould  an- 
fwer  in  the  affirmative,  you 
would  not  credit  me. 

68  And  if  I  fhould  exhi- 
bit before  you  the  ftrongeft 
proofs  and  demonftrations 
that  I  was  that  perfonage, 
you  would  neither  be  con- 
vinced '',  nor  acquit  me. 

6^  You  will  Iiowevcr  loon 
fee  a  ftriking  prdtif  of  my 
dignity — ^for  you  fhall  fee  me, 
the  fon  of  man,  invefted  with 
the  higheft  authority  and 
power '  at  the  right  hand  of 
God 

70  Upon  this  they  all  cla- 
moured— Art  thou  the  fon  of 


T/jt'  Iliilory   of  Jesus        Chap,  xxiii. 

God  ?  —  Jefus  faid,  Moft  af- 
furcdly  I  am. 

7 1  The  adembly  then  faid 
— What  occafion  have  we  for 
evidence  againft  him  —  You 
have  all  heard  the  horrid  blaf- 
phemies  he  hath  juft  uttered. 


CHAP.   XXIII. 

I  npHE  whole  aflembly, 
■*•  being  unanimoufly  re- 
folved  upon  his  condemna- 
tion, conducted  him  to  Pilate 
the  procurator  of  Jiida^a. 

2  Soon  as  they  were  ad- 
mitted, they  began  to  alledge 
many  heavy  crimes  againft 
him — This  perfon,  they  faid, 
hath  been  for  a  number  of 
years  feducing  the  province 
from  their  allegiance — ufing 
all  his  influence  to  prohibit 
the  payment  of  tribute  to  the 
Emperor,  and  arrogantly  ftil- 
ino;  himfelf  Meffiah  the  King. 

3  Pilate  then  faid  to  him, 
Doil  thou  affijme  the  title  of 
the  fovereifjn  of  the  Jews  ? 
— Jefus  anfwered  in  the  a£^, 
firmative. 

4  Pilate  after  examining 
him,  turned  to  the  high 
priefts  and  to  the  populace 
and  faid  —  I  do  not  find  this 
man  guilty  of  any  capital 
crime. 


^  In  the  original  it  is — ajk  avd  anfiuer,  denoting  free  debate,  by  which 
truth  is  invelHgated  and  explored. 

^  Referring  to  the  dellru£tion  oi  Jerufakm — in  which  )aA%  p9\ver  would 
be  difplayed. 

5  At 


chap,  xxili.  by   L 

5  At  this  deelaration  of 
the  governor  they  raifed  loud 

and  vehement  clamours 

This  impoftor,  they  faid, 
hath  been  raifing  difturban- 
ces  in  every  part  of  Judaea — 
haranguing  the  mob  every 
where — and  the  tumults  he 
firil  excited  in  Galilee  have 
reached  the  capital  and  pro- 
duced univerlal  confufion  in 
the  nation. 

6  Upon  the  mention  of 
Gahlee,  die  procurator  a&ed, 
if  the  prifoner  was  a  Gali- 
laean. 

7  And  when  he  under- 
ftood  that  the  fcene  of  thefe 
public  tranfadions  had  been 
chiefly  laid  in  Herod's  do- 
minions—  he  ordered  him  to 
be  condu<5ted  to  that  mo- 
narch— v/hom  the  prefent  fef- 
tival  had  brought  to  the  city. 

§ — 8  At  the  fight  of  Jefus 
Herod  was  in  raptures  —  He 
had  been  extremely  defirous 
a  long  time  to  fee  one,  of 
whom  he  had  heard  fo  many 
amazino;  accounts — He  there- 
fore  now  flattered  himfeli  that 
his  curiofity  would  be  grati- 
fied by  feeing  him  perform 
.  fome  fignal  and 
miracle. 

9  He  therefore  begged 
and  importuned  him  with  re- 
peated and  urgent  folicitati- 
ons  to  favour  him  with  the 
exhibition  of  his  miraculous 
power — But  to  all  thefe  im- 


aftoii  idling 


U    K  E.  271 

portunate  entreaties  Jefus  an- 
fwered  not  a  v/ord. 

10  The  high  priefts  and 
Jewifli  clergy  Hood  by  all  the 
time,  with  extreme  virulence 
and  inceflTant  clamour  charg- 
ing him  v/ith  the  moil  atroci- 
ous crimes — and  v^ehemently 
urging  his  condemnation. 

1 1  Herod  finding  his 
hopes  difappointed,  looked 
upon  him  as  an  objed  of  the 
vilell  contempt — and  himfelf 
and  his  officers  joined  in  in- 
fuking  and  treadng  him  with 
the  lovvefl:  banter  and  deri- 
fion  — After  having  been  the 
fport  of  their  inhumanity  and 
cruelty  they  arrayed  him  in  a 
robe  of  mock  royalty  —r-  and 
fent  him  back  to  Pikte. 

§ — 12  That  day  friend- 
fliip  and  harmony  were  re- 
ftored  between  Pilate  and  He- 
rod— and  all  the  forrner  dif- 
ferences that  had  before  fub- 
filled  between  them,  were 
now  compofcd  by  a  mutual 
reconciliation. 

§ — 13  When  Jefus  was 
fent  back  without  any  itn- 
tence  being  pronounced  up- 
on him  by  Herod,  the  pro- 
curator convoked  the  high 
priells,  the  magiflirates,  and 
the  people, 

14  and  thus  fpoke — You 
have  brought  before  me  a 
perfon,  as  a  difl:urber  of  go- 
vernment, and  I  have  taten 
an  examination  of  him  l^efore 

you 


2/2 

you  all,  but  have  found 
him  guilty  of  none  of  thofc 
crimes  with  which  you  have 
charged  him. 

15  Neither  doth  Herod 
think,  tho'  he  hath  heard  all 
that  you  have  alledged  a- 
gainft  him,  that  he  hath  done 
any  thing  that  merits  capita! 
punifhment. 

16  I  will  therefore  fcntence 
him  to  be  whipped  and 
then  releafe  him. 

1 7-— For  the  procurator  had 
eftablifhed  a  cuftom  of  gratify- 
ing them  every  palTover  with 
the  acquittal  of  any  one  prifon- 
er  they  ihould  defire — 

18  The  whole  aflembly 
hearing  this — with  a  loud  and 
violent  vociferation  cried  — — 
Drag  him  away.  Drag  him 
away "" !  and  oblige  us  with 
the  releafe  of  Barabbas. 

19  This  Barabbas  was  a 
notorious  ruffian,  who  had 
been  imprifoned  for  raifing 
an  infurredlion  in  the  city, 
and  committing  murder. 

20  Pilate  defnous  to  ac- 
quit Jefus  made  a  fecond  ef- 
fort to  appeafe  the  enraged 
multitude. 

21  But  his  voice  was  drown- 
ed in  one  vehement  and  uni- 
vcrfal  clamour,  that  repeated, 
Crucify  him  !  Crucify  him  ! 

22  He  perfifted  to  make 
a  third  attempt  to  placate  their 


T^e  Hiftory  of  Jesus     Chap,  xxill. 


violent  fury  —  endeavouring 
to  convince  them  of  their  in- 
juftice — What  capital  crime, 
he  afked  them,  do  you  charge 
him  with  —  1  have  exarnined 
him  and  found  nothing  in  his 
conduct  that  deferves  death 
—  I  will  give  orders  for  his 
beingpublickly  whipped,  and 
difmifs  him. 

23  At  this  they  again  pier- 
ced the  air  with  their  cries  — 
and  with  more  determined  ve- 
hemence and  fury  than  ever 
demanded  his  crucifixion  — 
The  violence  of  the  popu- 
lace and  the  urgent  folicitati-' 
ons  of  the  high  priefts  at  lad 
prevailed  upon  the  procurator 
to  comply. 

24  Pilate  then  gave  orders 
that  he  fhould  be  executed 
according  to  their  requell. 

25  At  their  united  inhpor- 
tunity  he  releafed  out  ot  pri- 
fon  one  who  had  perpetrat- 
ed murder  and  caufed  a  riot 
— but  furrendered  up  Jefus 
to  their  implacable  and  bloody 
refentments. 

26  As  they  were  dragging 
him  to  the  place  of  cru- 
cifixion they  leized  one  Si- 
mon a  citizen  of  Cyrene, 
whom  they  happened  to  meet 
as  he  was  comin^T  to  the  city, 
— and  compelled  him  to  take 
the  crofs  and  carry  it  after 
him. 


*  The  words  are  repeated  in  the  Ccmlr'Jge  MS. 


§- 


Chap,  xxiii.  by   Luke 

§  —  27    There  followed 


-       ^7 
him  to  the  place  of  execution 

a  prodigious  crowd  of  peo- 
ple— the  women  beating  their 
breafts  and  deploring  his  un- 
happy fate  with  the  mod 
piercing  lamentations. 

28  To  thefe  he  turned  and 
thus  fpoke — Ye  daughters  of 
Jerulalem !  let  not  my  mifer- 
able  end  provoke  your  tears, 
but  let  them  flow  for  the 
dreadful  defliny  in  which 
yourfeives  and  your  children 
will  fhortly  be  involved. 

29  For  the  time  will  foon 
come,  when  the  diftraded 
mother  fhall  exclaim — Hap- 
py, Happy  is  the  barren  wo- 
man !  Thrice  happy  the  bo- 
fom  that  never  felt  maternal 
tendernefs ! 

30  Such  dire  mifery  and 
horror  <will  then  reign,  that 
men  fliall  paffionately  wifh 
the  mountains  and  hills  to 
overwhelm  them,  and  to 
hide  them  from  the  dreadful 
fpedacle". 

3 1  For  if  the  green  bough 
burns  with  fuch  violence,  with 
what  horrid  fury  will  the  dry 
tree  blaze  ! 

§  —  32  Two  malefailors 
were  alio  conducted  along 
with  him  to  the  place  of  cru- 
cifixion. 

33  Being  arrived  at  Calva- 
ry, the  place  of  execution,  they 


27S' 
crucified  him  between  two 
criminals. 

34  When  Jefus  was  ex- 
tended on  the  crofs  he  de- 
voutly uttered  this  petition  to 
God — Merciful  father !  grant 
them  thy  forgivenefs,  for 
they  know  not  what  they  do ! 
— The  ibldiers  parted  his 
cloaths  and  caft  lots  for  them. 

35  The  common  people 
flood  fpedators  of  this  whole 

tranfaftion among  whom 

were  alio  the  principal  mem- 
bers of  the  Sanhedrim — who 
all  united  in  offering  him  the 
mofl  contemptuous  inlult  and 
abufe — crying  out — Since  he 
is  the  great  Meifiah,  the  dil- 
tinguifbed  favourite  of  hea- 
v^.en,  let  him  who  hath  faved 
fuch  numbers  from  death, 
now  fave  himfelf ! 

36  The  Roman  guards  al- 
fo  conjoined  in  making  him 
the  object  of  their  fport  and 
derifion — advancing  up  to  his 
crofs,  and  offering  him  vine- 
gar, 

37  and  infolently  faying  to 
him — Since  thou  art  the  o-reat 
lovereign  ot  Judasa,  let  us 
fee  thee  reicue  thyfelf  from- 
thy  prefent  mifery. 

3  8  Over  his  head  they  fix- 
ed   up    this     infcription     in 
Greek,  Latin  and  Hebrew  v 
This  is  the  king  of  the 
Jews. 


n  Referring  to  their  eating  hunaan  fleOi  in  the  fiegc.     See  Jc/ephus. 

Vol.  I.  T  §— 


ty^ 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus     Chap,  xxiii. 


§ — 39  One  of  the  crimi- 
nals too  from  his  crofs  ca- 
lumniated him  and  faid  — 
Since  thou  art  the  illuftrious 
MefTiah,  why  dofi:  not  thou 
extricate  both  thyfelf  and  us 
from  our  prefent  tortures  ! 

40  But  the  other  reproved 
him  for  his  profane  inlolence, 
and  faid  to  hi:n — How  canft 
thou,  who  art  in  the  (fixnt 
condem.ned  and  wretched  cir- 
cumftances,  allow  thyfelf  to 
be  guilty  of  fuch  impiety  a- 
gainft  God ! 

41  We  indeed  iuftly  fuffer 
that  puniflimcnt  which  our 
crimes  have  merited  —  but 
this  pcrfon  hath  been  guilty 
of  no  irregularity  °. 

42  He  then  faid  to  Tefus 
—  Do  remember  me  when 
thou  arrived  in  thy  happy 
future  kingdom  ! 

43  Jefus  faid  to  him  — 
Wretched  as  I  this  day  am, 
yet  I  can  afliire  theie  that 
thou  fhalt  fhare  with  me  the 
happinefs  of  a  bleiled  im- 
mortality. 

§ — 44  At  twelve  o'clock 
the  whole  land  of  Judssa  was 
enveloped  in  univerfal  dark- 
ncfs — which  continued  in  all 
its  horrors  till  three  in  the 
afternoon. 


45  The  fun  was  a  great 
blank  in  the  midft  of  heaven 

—  the  veil  that  feparated  the 
fanftuary  and  the  holy  of  ho- 
lies was  rent  in  two. 

46  Jefus  then  v/ith  aftrong 
and  vehement  voice  cried  out 

—  O  Father  !  into  thy  mer- 
ciful hands  I  will  refign  my 
fpirit! — Having  uttered  theie 
v/ords  he  expired. 

47  When  the  Roman  of- 
ficer faw  the  uncvmmo7i  cir- 
cumftance  that  attended  his 
laft  moments  %  he  was  ftruck 
with  religious  av/e  and  reve- 
rence, and  faid  — Undoubt- 
edly this  was  a  good  man  ! 

48  And  all  the  people  who 
were  })refent  feeing  the  a- 
rrrazing  plitenomena  with 
which  his  death  was  attend- 
ed, in  an  ecilafy  of  aftoniili- 
ment  and  horror  ftruck  their 
breafts,  and  returned  to  their 
refpec'ilive  homes. 

49  AH  his  friends  too,  and 
the  women  who  had  attended 
him  in  his  late  journey  from 
Galilee  to  the  city,  ftood  at 
fome  diftance,  and  were  fpec- 
tators  of  thofe  wonderful  e- 
vents. 

§ — 50  There  was  at  that 
time  a  member  of  the  San- 
hedrim, whofe  name  was  Jo- 


°  rtTo•To^  is  literally,  cut  cf  the  way.  It  fignifies  any  thing  ahfnrd-—^ 
any  thing  inanjtjhnt  with  a  perfon's  general  charadlcr. 

p  Meaning— his  crying  out  with  a  loud  voice  the  moment  before  he  ex- 
pired. 

fcph 


Chap.  xxlv.  by   L 

feph  —  a  perfon  of  a  virtuous 
zi.'l.  mofl  amiable  charafter. 

51  He  was  a  native  of  Ari- 
mathea  —  one  who  lived  in 
cxpediation  of  the  fpeedy  e- 
ftablifliment  of  the  Meffiah's 
kingdom  —  and  who  had  dif- 
covered  the  greateft  averfion 
and  abhorrence  of  the  pro- 
cedures of  the  Jews  in  this 
whole  tranfaftion. 

52  This  perfon  came  to 
I'ilate,  and  begged  he  would 
give  him  the  body  of  Jefus. 

Cj'}^  Having  obtained  his 
requefl,  he  took  dawn  the 
corpfe  —  Avathed  it  in  fine 
linen,  according  to  the  Jew- 
ilh  cuftom — and  repofited  it 
in  a  tomb,  which  he  had  very 
lately  hollowed  for  himfelf 
in  the  folid  rock,  and  in  which 
nobody  had  ever  been  inter- 
red. 

54  The  next  day  was  cal- 
led the  Preparation  —  being 
the  day  that  preceded  the 
Jewifia  fabbath. 

55  The  women,  who  had 


u  K  E.  275 

accompanied  him  from  Ga- 
lilee, followed  the  body  — 
faw  him  perform  thefe  pious 
offices,  and  remarked  the 
tomb,  and  the  manner  ia 
which  the  corpfe  was  depor 
ficed. 

C.6  After  they  had  feen 
chefe  funeral  obfequies  per- 
formed —  they  returned  into 
the  city,  and  purchaled  a 
great  quantity  of  rich  aro- 
matic fpices,  intending  tQ 
embalm  him  —  but  deferred 
it  till  the  fabbath  was  paft — 
which  they  kept  according  to 
the  prcfcription  of  the  law, 

CHAP.   XXIV. 

I  C\  N  the  firfl  day  of  the 
^^  week,  foon  as  the 
morning  dav^ned  %  the  wo- 
men above-mentioned  and 
fome  of  their  companions 
along  with,  them  hafted  to 
the  tomb  —  carrying  the  a- 
romatic  fpices  ',  which  they 
had  purchaled. 

2  But 


9  This  phrafe  op^t>©-  Ca^xj^  often  occurs  in  the  Greek  writers — and 
there  is  a  paflage  in  Arijlcpbams  which  greatly  illuftrates  this,  and  de- 
fines the  time  at  which  tiiis  vifit  was  paid lAAA*  \<vv  op9p©-  CecQyf. 

BA.   Ni)  T3C  ^i'  a'\.i  ya^  ctvi^iUATt  vw, 
i2f  a.'To  y.iffeav   vvktcov  rTc:p(tKa.Ky.VTii   /u,*  ««/, 

Avyjti  iX'^VTii -It  follows   ■■  ethXa.  yu^ 

S/TSL/J^wjMgf — TT^iv  tifj^ipctv  yn'i^.     Ariftoph.  Vefp.  p.  436.  fah. 
VT-TiPA  CaQtta  is  alfo  very  late  in  the  evening.     The  fervants  met  them 
with  lights  returning   from 'the  purfuit,  it  being  now  mTripat  CaQusk. 
Plutarch  JS.m\\.  4S6. 

^  The  fame  funeral  honours  were  alfo  paid  to  the  remains  of  Sy//a  by 
thcladies  of  Fo,-!T>;,    «*  The  ladies  are  faid  to  have  brought  to  Jiis  corpfe 

T  z  fuch 


The  Kiftory  of  jESts 


276 

2  But  when  tliey  were  ar- 
rived at  the  place  they  found 
the  large  ftonc  that  blocked 
up -its  entrance  rolled  away. 

3  :Upon  this  they  entered 
tiie  monument,  but  were  a- 
flonifhed  to  find  the  body  of 
'Jefus  conveyed  away. 

:"  4  But  while  they  were  in 
the  mod  cruel  perplexity,  mu- 
tually expreffing  their  amaze- 
ment at  fuch  an  unexpected 
event  — two  celeflial  beings, 
in  an  human  form,  fuddenly 
•  prefented  themfelves — clad 
in  robes  that  darted  the  mod 
dazzling  fplendor  and  efful- 


gence 


5  Ac  fo  fudden  and  awful 
a  lpe(^acle  they  were  chil- 
led with  terror,  and  funk 
prodrate  on  the  ground  — 
The  angels  then  laid  to  iliciu, 
"What  hath  induced  you  to 
feek  for  the  living  in  thefe 
dreary  receffes  where  death 
and  horror  reign  ? ' 

6  The  object  of  your  en- 
quiries is  not  here  —  he  l.ath 
quitted  the  manfions  of  the 
ciead — Do  you  not  remember 
what  heexprefsly  told  you  in 
Galilee  .'' 


Chap.  xxiv. 

7  "  That  the  fon  of  man 
would  by  the  vileft  perfidy 
be  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  his  bloody  perfecutors  — - 
that  he  would  be  crucified, 
but  on  the  third  day  would 
rile  from  the  grave." 

8  They  then  recoil e6led 
that  they  had  heard  him  make 
ufe  of  thefe  very  exprelTions. 

9  They  quitted  the  fepul- 
chre  immediately  —  and  re- 
turning to  the  city  reported 
all  thefe  circumftances  to  the 
eleven  Apoftles  and  others 
who  were  along  with  them. 

10  The  perfons  who  had 
vifited  the  fepulchre,  and  now 
brought  this  relation  to  the 
apoftles,  were  Mary  Magda- 
lene, Joanna,  Mary  the  mo- 
ther of  James,  and  their  at- 
tendants on  this  occaficn. 

1 1  But  they  paid  them  not 
the  lead  credit — looking  up- 
on the  v/hole  account  as  an 
abfurd  and  vifionary  tale. 

1 2  Peter  however  got  up, 
and  ran  v/ich  anxious  and 
precipitate  fteps  to  the  tomb 
—  but  when  he  (looped  and 
looked  into  the  monument, 
he  faw  only  the  linnen  rollers 


Aich'Tt5'rnamions'quantUv*6f  aromatic  Ipice?^  ,/cr..«;/^Tft'r,  that  o.  the 
f\cniilch,cin&-  crJ  cinmmon  there  wjis  formed  a  figure  of  .'>,//«  as  large  as 
Jife;  yThis  pafTage  ft\c\vs  what  thefe  aptYxaT*  \^cre,  that  they  were  dry 
fpiccs,  and  net  c-.L'f/ as  GVo?/;/j  fuppo<es.  .'     A     r  1 

»  \nti^^\acLv  Hiould   l^ave   been    rendered,  fuJdcvJj  afpearcd.     t-on  ult 
Il.K;i:4;  4".  zox.-   Plut-Demrt:  p.  1630.  li^ih  8?.o.  GV.  Steib.    Luke, 
h.'  q...  A&s,  xxiii.-27^;    Sec  Note  on  Aas  xxiii.  7-j.         .  , 
■  t  The  crigimljlb  very  exfreflivc— robes  that ihof lightening. 

lying 


Chap.  xxlv. 


by    L 


lying  along  —  Being  convin- 
ced that  the  body  was  gone, 
he  went  back  towards  the 
city,  loft  in  aflionifliment  and 
;wonder  at  fo  ftrange  an  e- 
vent. 

§ — 13  After  this,  on  the 
fame  day,  as  two  of  the  dil- 
ciples  were  going  to  Em- 
maus,  a  village  fixty  furlongs 
diftant  from  Jerufalem, 

14  and  converfing  on  the 
road  on  all  the  late  remark- 
able events : 

15  While  they  were  ea- 
gerly difcufTing  the  fubjeft, 
and  were  now  mutually  en- 
gaged in  warm  debate — they 
were  joined  by  Jefus. 

16  But  their  faculties  were 
fo  entirely  fufpended  and  en- 
groffed  in  the  conference,  that 
they  did  not  narrowly  obferve 
and  recognife  his  perfon. 

17  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
what  is  the  fubjeft  that  hath 
fo  v/armly  intercfiied  you  on 
the  road,  and  which  appears 
to  have  funk  you  in  fo  much 
gloom  and  dejeftion  ? 

18  One  of  them  whofe 
name  was  Cleopas  faid  to 
him  —  Art  thou  the  only  fo- 
reigner in  Jerufalem,  that  are 
not  acquamted  with  the  fig- 
nal  events  that  have  lately 
happened  ? 

19  What  events  ?  he  faid 
'—  The  diftinguifhed  tranf- 
a'wljons,  they  replied,  of  one 


u  K  E.  277 

Jefus,  a  native  of  Nazareth, 
a  moft  iiluftrious  prophet, 
who  exhibited  to  the  world 
the  moft  amazing  miracles, 
and  delivered  the  molt  fub- 
lime  and  heavenly  dodlrincs 
to  all  the  people  of  Judsa. 

20  Haft  thou  not  heard 
how  this  eminent  perfonage 
was  by  the  high  priefts  and 
our  Sanhedrim  publickly  con- 
demned and  crucified  ? 

2 1  We  indeed  flattered 
ourfclves  with  the  fond  fan- 
guine  hope,  that  this  was 
the  very  perfon  wIiq  was  to 
have  procured  Ifrael.  com- 
plete deliverance  and  felicity 
—  Know,  however,  that  this 
is  the  third  day  linceJiis, exe- 
cution. 

22  We  have  alfo  been 
greatly  alarmed  by  fome  wo- 
men who  were  our  friends, 
who  went  very  early  to  vifit 
the  tomb  ^ 

23  for  on  their  return  to 
us  they  reported  that  the  bo- 
dy war,  gone,  and  that  they 
had  feeri  an  apparition  of  an- 
gels, v/ho  alfured  them  that 
he  was  reftored  to  life. 

24  Some  too  of  our  com- 
panions went  to  the  tomb, 
and  found  every  circumftance 
true  which  the  woman  had 
related  — They  were  convin- 
ced by  ocular  demonftratioa 
that  the  body  was  not  there. 

25  He   then  faid  to  them 

T  3  -O 


27S 


I'he  Hiftory  of  Jesus       Chap,  xxiv. 


•— O  how  inattentive  and  in- 
confiderate  you  are  !  How 
unwilling  to  believe  all  the 
mofl:  plain  and  exprels  pre- 
di6lions  of  the  prophets ! 

26  Was  not  the  Mefiiah 
to  fiibmit  to  all  this  feries 
of  forrows,  before  he  fhould 
be  inverted  with  the  illuftri- 
ous  dignity  and  honours  of 
his  glorious  kingdom  ? 

2^7  He  then  adduced  and 
explained  to  them  all  the  pro- 
phecies refpedling  himfelf  in 
a  regular  order  from  Mofes 
down  to  the  lateft  prophets. 

28  When  they  were  got 
to  the  village,  whither  they 
intended  at  firft  to  go,  he 
feemed  defirous  to  have  pro- 
ceeded farther : 

29  But  they  folicited  him 
in  the  moft  importunate  terms 
to  lodge  with  them  that  night, 
as  the  day  was  far  declined — 
They  at  lad  prevailed  upon 
him,  and  he  went  along  v/ith 
them. 

30  When  he  fat  down  with 
them  to  fupper,  he  took  bread, 
and  after  offering  up  his  de- 
vout    acknowledgments    to 


God,  he  broke  and  dillribut- 
ed  it  among  them. 

31  This  adtion  at  once 
drew  their  eyes  and  attention 
upon  him —  They  knew  him 
—  but  he  "  inftantly  quitted 
them. 

32  Then  they  turned  in  a- 
mazement  to  one  another  and 
faid — What  ftupidity  not  to 
know  his  perlon  before  —  for 
were  not  our  he-arts  inflamed 
with  facred  ardor,  while  he 
was  difcourfing  with  us  on  tiie 
road  and  interpreting  to  us 
the  holy  fc riptu  res  ! 

'^'^  They  got  up  that  mo- 
ment and  went  back  to  the 
city  to  impart  the  happy  news 
to  the  rcflof  the  difciples  and 
their  attendants — whom  they 
found  all  affemblcd  together. 

34  But  the  moment  they 
entered,    the  company  in  an 
ecllafy  of  joy  cried  out 
Jefus  is  moft  certainly  rifen  ! 
Simon  Peter  hath  fecn  him  ! 

^^  Then  they  two  recount- 
ed all  the  circumftances  that 
had  occurred  in  the  road  to 
Emmaus,  and  how  they  were 
convinced  of  the  identity  of 


"  Thus  afdVTQ-  is  urcd  — and  not  that  our  Lord  'vamp^ed,  as  if  he 
had  no  rial  bodv.  At  t©"  </'  <:<  t/i''  a.(^ct.v7(Q-  0  CciX.oKQr  (oy<iro  y^^ipctv  ; 
Into  what  country  Jiath  the  herdfman  J'uddcnly  fed  ?  Theocrit.  Eid.  iv.  5. 
Anacrton  fays  of  the^«allow. 

H  Ns/Ao;-  «  V/  M5/7.!;;/r.    Ode  xxxu'i.  j\^,  5. 

.6(!£f/tf;n //.  T.  303. 

his 


Chap.  xxlv.  by    L 

his  perlbfi,  when  his  peculiar 
manner  betbre  fuppcr  had  fix- 
ed their  attention  to  it. 

'^G  While  they  were  relat- 
ing thefe  circumfiances,  and 
every  one's  attention  was  to- 
tally cngrolTed  by  the  account 
— —  Jefus  came  unperceived, 
and  {landing  in  the  midfl  of 
them  accoiled  them  with  the 

ufuai  faiutation- May  uni- 

.verfal  happinefs  attend  you  ! 

'3,']  They  were  inftantiy 
feized  vvith  the  lad  terrour 
•and  confternation — for  they 
believed  they  faw  a  fpeftre. 

38  jefus  then  faid  to  them 
——Why  are  ye  thus  intimi- 
dated ? Why  do  ye  fuffer 

fuch  frightful  images  to 
feize  your  minds  and  to  fill 
you  with  fuch  perturbation 
and  horror  ? 

39  View  attentively  my 
hands  and  my  feet  -  ■  -  Con- 
vince yourfelves  of  the  iden- 
tity of  my  perfon — contemp- 
late and  handle  me — A  fpec- 
tre  hath  not  flefn  and  bones  ^\ 
as  you  have  ocular  and  fenfi- 
ble  proof  that  1  have. 

40  Having  faid  this  he 
fliowed  to  evtry  one  of  the  mi 
his  hands  and  his  feet — and 
bad  them  remark  the  fears 
with  which  they  were  impref- 
fed. 

41  But  the  belief  of  fome 


u  K  E.  279 

I  being  ftill  fufpended  by  an 
excels  of  rapture  and  amaze- 
ment, to  give  them  farther 
proofs  of  the  reality  of  his  per- 
fon, he  defired  they  would 
give  him  fome  viduals. 

42  They  brought  to  him 
part  of  a  broiled  fiih  and  fome 
honey  comb. 

43  Then  he  took  and  eat 
before  all  the  company. 

44  He  then  faid  to  them 
— I  told  you  in  the  mod  ex- 
plicit manner  in  many  for- 
mer converfations  that  all  the 
predictions  relating  to  myfelf 
in  the  law  of  Moles,  in  the 
fubfequent  prophets,  and  in 
the  pfalms,  were  to  receive 
an  exact  accompliihment. 

45  He  then  difpelled  the 
prejudices  that  before  cloud- 
ed their  minds  —  and  made 
them  fee  the  original  intenti- 
on and  defign  of  the  prophe- 
cies in  the  mod  clear  and  per- 
fpicuous  light. 

46  He  concluded  with  fay- 
ing—  Thefe  are  the  exprefs 
predictions  of  fcripture — the 
plain  tenor  of  which  is,  That 
the  Mefliah  was  to  fuffer  and 
die — that  on  the  third  day  he 
was  to  rife  from  the  grave — 

47  —  that  repentance  and 
remiiTion.-of'fms  were  to  be 
proclaim.ed  in  his  name,  to 
every  nation  in  the  univerfe 


'*'  Aaa'  dt;TJi  tT/KH   «r/  Cporm',  on  k-.v  n^ctvutji, 

T  /}.         "  '  —that 


28o  ne  Hiftory, 

»  that  the  firft  preachers 

were  to  open  their  cominif- 
fion  in  Jerufalem  —  and  from 
this  city,  as  a  center,  to  dif- 
fufe  the  joyful  tidings  of  this 
dilpenfationtothe  extremities 
of  the  globe. 

48  And  do  you  be  the  pub- 
lic witnelTes  of  thefe  fads  in 
the  world. 

49  Be  aflured  that  you 
fiiall  receive  thofe  fpiritual 
endowments  which  my  hea- 
venly father  hath  promiled  to 
impart  to  you — But  continue 
at  Jerufalem  'till  you  are  in- 
vefted  with  thefe  divine  pow- 
ers. 

§ — 50  Having  given  them 
thefe  initrudtions,  he  led  them 


of  Jesus.     Chap,  xxiv, 

out  of  the  city  as  far  as  Beth- 
any— there  he  lifted  up  his 
hands  and  pronounced  his 
blefTing  upon  them. 

51  While  he  was  engaged 
in  this  pious  office  —  he  was 
taken  up  from  them,  and 
conveyed  to  heaven. 

52  Struck  with  this  amaz- 
ing fpe6lacle  they  proftrated 
themfelves — and  after  paying 
him  divine  honours  ",  return^ 
ed  to  Jerufalem,  elated  with 
the  mod  rapturous  joy. 

c^l  And  conftantly  every 
day  they  referred  to  the  tem- 
ple— with  the  devouteft  fer- 
vour praifing  and  celebrating 


God  for  all   thefe 
diftinguifhed  events 


great 


and 


*  Becaufe  he  was  now  conftituted,  by  the  fupreme  Being,  the  univerfal 
governor  of  all  things. 


THE 


THE 


HISTORY    OF    JESUS 


B 


JOHN. 


CHAP.    I. 


the 


I  T^EFORE 

J3  of  this  world  exifted 
the  LOGOS  ^ — who  was  then 
with  the  Supreme  God — and 
was  himfelf  a  divine  perfon. 

2  He  exifted  with  the  Su- 
preme Being,  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  earth  was  laid  :' 

3  For  this   moft  eminent 
perfonage  did  the  Deity  fole- 
ly  employ  in  the  formation  of. 
this  world,  and  of  every  thing 
it  contains. 

4  This  exalted  fpirit  af- 
fumed  human  life — and  from 
his  incarnation  the  moft  pure 
and  facred  emanations  of 
light  were  derived  to  illumi- 
nate mankind : " 

5  This  light  fhot  its  beams 
into  a  benighted  world — and 


conquered  and  difpelled  that 
gloomy  darknefs,  in  which  it 
was  inveloped  ^J"). 

6  To  uiher  this  divine  per- 
fonage  into  the  world,  and  to 
prepare  men  for  his  recepti- 
on, God  previouily  conimiC 
fioned  and  fent  John  the  Bap- 
tift. 

7  This  prophet  came  to 
give  public  notice  that  a  glo- 
rious light  would  fhortly  ap- 
pear— to  excite  all  the  Jews 
to  credit  and  receive  this 
great  mefienrrer  of  God. 

8  John  himfelf  openly  dif- 
avowed  all  pretenfions  to  this 
exalted  chara6ler — declaring, 
that  he  was  only  appointed  of 
God  to  give  public  informa- 
tion of  this  iiiuftrious  pcrfon- 
age. 

9  That  divine  perfon  was 


_  y  The  PlatoniJJs,  whofe  Phllofophy  obtained  among  the  Je-ivs  at  this 
time,  and  particularly  Philo,  fpeak  of  Reason  as  a  Being  inferior  and 
•iuborditiate  to  the  Supreme  God.  "  The  material  World  was  made 
after  the  likenefs  of  ^  fecotid  God,  who  is  the  Reason  of  the  fupreme 
God,  0<  «c-/t;  ?v:«/"K  AOrOS.  Philo  apnd  Eufeb.  Prep,  vii.  13."  In 
his  hoQ)R.oiHuJbandry,  he  alfo  calls  Reason  GoA' s  Jirji  born  fon,  ^pa-*^ 
loyov©-  vi@-,  p.  152." 

^  Alluding  to  that  pure  and  perfeft  Difpenfation  of  Religion  which 
Jie  intj-oduced  among  mankind, 

the 


282  "The  Hiftory 

the  true  light  —  which  v/ith 
its  lacred  rays  illuminates  e- 
very  rational  being. 

10  This  exalted  Being 
formed  the  world — did  after- 
wards mske  his  public  ap- 
pearance in  it — but  it  reject- 
ed him. 

1 1  He  made  his  public 
appearance  among  his  own 
favourite  nation  the  Jews  — 
but  his  own  favourite  nation 
rep ul fed  him. 

12  But  thofe  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, wlio  embraced  his  doc- 
trines, and  were  firmly  per- 
fuaded  of  the  truth  iind  au- 
thority of  his  religion,  he  in- 
veftcd  with  the  diflinguifhed 
privilege  of  the  fons  ot  God. 

13  This  fingular  and  fa- 
cred  privilege  thefe  Heathen 
countries  did  not  derive  from 
any  lineal  delcent,  from  any 
eminent  piety  and  virtue  of 
their  progenitors,  or  from  a- 
ny  efforts  of  human  wifdom 
and  philofophy  —  the  benig- 
nity of  God /i?/t'/>'  conferred  it 
upon  them. 

14  The  LOGOS  aflumed 
human  nature,  and  refided  a- 
mong  us — communicating  to 
mankind  the  moft  facred  anti 


of  Jesus  Chap.  i. 

heavenly  truths and  we 

were  fpedators  of  all  the  a- 
ftonifhing   tranfadlions  of  his 

life by  which  he  demon- 

ft rated  himfelf  to  us  to  be  tiie 
dillingaiflied  ttivouritc  of  hea- 
ven ' . 

§ — 15  John'  the  Baptift 
gave  the  moft  explicit  tefti- 
mony  of  his  perfon  and  cha- 
racler,  by  making  the  follow- 
ing public  proclamation  — 
"  This,  this  is  the  very  per- 
fon I  referred  to,  when  I  told 
you.  That  my  fucceffor 
would  be  a  perfon  of  greater 
dignity  and  eminence  than 
myfelf. 

16  "  This  is  the  perfon, 
from  the  immenfe  plenitude 
of  whofe  love  and  benignity 
it  is  that  we  "^  have  received 
a  glorious  and  perfecl:  difpen- 
fation  to  fuperfede  and  vacate 
the  former, 

1 7  "  for  the  law  was  pro- 
mulgated by  Mofes  —  but  a 
nobler  fcheme,  replete  with 
benignity  and  the  moll  im- 
portant truths,  is  now  pub- 
liflied  by  Jefus  the  MeHiah. 

18  "  None  of  the  former 
law-givers  had  any  perfonal 
intercourfes   with   the  Deity 


'  Gn]y  he^oticit  means  the  obje6>  of  one's  fbiidcfl  afieftions  :  Aich  as 
an  ov.ly  child  is.  This  term  is  applied  to  Chrill,  to  £how  us,  how  ele- 
vated and  diflinguifhed  his  ftatjon  was  amongll  the  orders  of  ccleftial 
i'pirits. 

*>  As  this  is  a  Prophecy,  John  fpeaks  here,  as  other  Prophets  do,  of 
things  future  as  prefent.  yaotv  avTi  'ya.^nO'  means,  the  Cbrijiiau  Dif- 
pcafation  injreaa  of  the  Jt-i^jtjh. 

—  but 


chap.  I. 


—  but  this  mpfl  illuftrious 
favourite  of  heaven  hath  been 
admitted  into  the  bolbm  of 
the  Father,  and  is  enabled  to 
communicate  to  mankind  the 
cleareft  difcoveries  of  his  per- 
feftions  and  counfels.'* 

§ — 19  This  alfo  is  another 
teftimony  that  John  the  Bap- 
tift  gave  publickly  to  Jefus, 
when  the  Sanhedrim  deputed 
a  number  of  prieRs  and  le- 
vites  to  interrogate  him  con- 
cerning his  precenfions,  and 
to  receive  a  categorical  an- 
fwer  from  him,  who  he  was. 

20  The  anfvver  he  gave  to 
this  folemn  mcffage  was  not 
evafive — it  was  plain  and  ex- 
plicit —  I  really  am  not  the 
Meffiah. 

2 1  They  then  afked  him. 
Are  you  Ehas  ?  — He  faid  he 
was  not — Are  you  any  of  the 
old  prophets  reftored  to  life  "^  ? 
— -He  replied,  I  am  not. 

22  They  faid  to  him — Sa- 
tisfy us  then  who  you  are — 
for  we  v/ere  publickly  com- 
miffioned  to  make  thefe  en- 
quiries of  you,  and  mufl  re- 
port your  anfwer  —  What  is 
the  charader  you  alTume  ? 

23  To  this  John  anfwered  in 
the  words  of  the  prophet  Ifaiah 


fy    ]  o  11  K.  2S3 

"  I  am  tlic  voice  of  an  her- 
ald making  public  proclama- 
tion in  the  folitude,  Q  pre- 
pare for  the  fpeeJy  advent  of 
the  Meffiah  1  —  Make  a  fofc 
and  ealy  path  for  bis  facred 
fleps. 

24  (The  perfons  who  were 
fent  from  Jerufalem  to  pro- 
pofe  thefe  queftions  were 
Pharifees) 

25  What  hath  then  induc- 
ed you,  they  continued,  to 
baptize  in  this  public  man- 
ner, if  you  are  neither  the 
Meffiah,  nor  Elias,  nor  any 
other  of  the  anticnt  prophets? 

26  He  replied — I  adminiT 
fter  only  water  ^  baptifm  — 
But  there  is  a  perfon  now  a- 
mong  you,  who  is  appointed 
to  be  my  fucceffi^r — but  with 
whofe  charadler  you  are  not 
as  yet  acquainted — 

27  lie  is  poflefled  of  infi- 
nitely fuperiour  eminence  and 
dignity  than  I  am — for  whom 
I  Seem  not  myfelf  worthy  to 
{loop  and  do  the  meaneft  of- 
fice. 

28  The  above  tranfaLl;ions 
happened  at  "  Bethabara, 
the  great  pafiage  over  Jor- 
dan, where  John  was  thea 
baptizing. 


<  This  is  a  proof  that  the  Jews  had  now  adopted  the  Platonic  Philofophy 
one  dodrine  of  which  was,  the  Tranfmigration  of  Souls,  hers  men- 
tioned. 

^  Meaning,  that  the  MeJ/iaJ/s  would  be  of  a  dijercnt  nature.     See  Jcb 

*=  Bethahara  fignifies,  the  hovfe  of  fajpige, 

§—29 


2^4  The  HiRory 

§—29  The  day  after  this 
John  the  Baptift  defcried  Je- 
fus  at  fome  dilVance  as  he  was 
advancing  towards  him — and 
inftantly  cried  out,  in  rap- 
ture, to  the  furrounding 
multitude — "  Behold  yonder 
is  the  amiable  objeft  of  the 
divine  love,  who  is  appoint- 
ed to  reform  mankind ! 

30  "  This  is  the  very  per- 
fon  I  referred  to  when  I  told 
you.  That  my  fucceflbr  would 
ht  a  perfonage  of  infinitely 
greater  dignity  and  eminence 
than  myfelf. 

31  "I  did  not  know  that 
this  was  the  perfon,  before  I 
baptized  him  —  I  only  knew 
myfelf  to  have  a  divine  com- 
mlfTion  to  adminifter  baptifm, 
in  order  that  by  this  means 
fiis  charafter  might  be  pub- 
lickly  known  and  difcovered 
by  the  Jews.*' 

32  John  gave  this  exprefs 
teftimony  of  him — "  I  faw 
the  fpirit  defcend  from  the 
fky  with  the  rapidity  of  a 
dove,  and  light  upon  him. 

0,1  "  Before  this,  I  did  not 
know  that  he  was  this  great 

and  illuftrious   prophet 

When  I  faw  this  circum- 
ftancc,  I  was  immediately 
convinced  of  the  identity  of 
his  perfon — becaufe  that  Be- 
ing, from  whom  I  received 
my  commifTioii  to  baptize, 
fuggefted  to  my  mind,  That 
;he  rnan  on  whom  I  fhould 
2 


of  Jesus  Chap.  i. 

lee  the  fpirit  defcend  and  reft, 
was  the  very  perfon,  who 
(hould  baptize  with  the  holy 
fpirit.  "."' 

34  "  This  amazing  phe- 
nomenon I  fav/-^ and  I  de- 
clare to  you  in  the  moft  fo- 
lemn  manner.  That  this  per- 
fon is  the  fon  of  God  !" 

§ — ^2^^^  The  next  day  as 
John  was  ftanding  along 
with  two  of  his  difciples, 

36  he  difcovered  Jefus,  at 
fome  diftance,  walking; — and 
faid.  Behold  the  amiable  fa- 
vourite of  heaven  ! 

37  His  two  difciples,  hear- 
ing thefe  expreffions,  imme- 
diately went  after  Jefus. 

38  He  turning,  and  fee- 
ing them  follow  him,  faid  to 
them, 

39  What  induces  you  to 
follow  me  ?  —  They  afked 
him,  in  the  moft  refpcdful 
manner,  where  he  lodged, 

40  He  faid  to  them,  if  you 
will  attend  me  I  will  fliow 
you  — —  They  accompanied 
him,  it  being  now  about  ten 
o'clock  —  and  fpent  that  day 
with  him. 

41  One  of  thefe  two  who 
heard  John  utter  thefe  ex- 
prcllions,  and  whofe  curlofity 
was  excited  to  follow  Jefus, 
was  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
brother. 

42  He,  after  this  interview 
and  convcrfation  with  Jefus, 
inftantly  Avent  to  find  his  bro- 
ther 


Chap.  L  ^jT   J  o  H  N. 

ther  Peter — and  the  moment 
he  met  with  him  crxd  out,  in 
the  higheft  tranfport  —  We 


have  found  the  great  MefTiah ! 

43  Pie  then  brought  him 
diredly  to  Jellis — The  inftant 
Peter  came  in,  Jefus  fixed 
his  eyes  upon  him,  and  faid 
■ —  You  are  the  fon  of  Jonas 
— —  and  your  name  is  Simon  ^ 
—  but  your  furname  Ihall  be 
Peter  ^. 

§ — 44  The  day  following 
Jelus  purpofed  to  go  into  Ga- 
lilee— and  happening  to  meet 
with  Philip,  faid  to  him,  Fol- 
low me. 

45  Philip  was  an  inhabi- 
tant of  Bethfaida  —  the  fame 
town  in  which  Andrew  and 
Peter  lived. 

46  Philip  meets  with  Na- 
thanael,  and  in  an  extafy  of 
joy  cried  out — We  have  cer- 
tainly found  that  divine  per- 
fon  whom  Mofes  and  all  the 
fubfequent   prophets  have  fo 

diftinftly  dcfcribed His 

name  is  Jefus,  the  fon  of  Jo- 
feph  of  Nazareth. 

47  Is  it  poffible,  replied 
Nathanael,  that  any  thing 
that  is  good  can  come  from 
fo  obfcure  and  wicked  a  place 
as    Nazareth  —  Philip  faid, 


285 

Follow  me,  and  converfe  with 
him. 

48  As  Nathanael  was  ad- 
vancing towards  him,  Jefus 
faid  to  thofe  who  flood  by 
— Behold  a  true  and  genuine 
Ifraehte  !  a  man  who  podefies 
an  heart  entirely  free  from  all 
infincerity  ! 

49  Nathanael  faid  to  him 
—  How  is  it  poffible  for  you 
to  know  any  thing  of  my  real 
charadler  ?  —  Jefus  replied. 
Before  Philip  fpoke  to  you, 
I  was  a  witnefs  of  your  pri- 
vate ^  tranfaiflion,  when  you 
was  under  the  fig-tree. 

50  Upon  this  Nathanael 
in  aftonifliment  cried  our. 
Divine  inilrudtor !  Thou  art 
the  fon  of  God  !  Thou  art 
the  great  Meffiah  and  Law- 
sjiver  of  Ifrael  ! 

51  Jefus  faid  to  him — Doft 
thou  acknowledge  me  to  be 
the  Meffiah,  becaufe  I  dif- 
covered  that  I  was  confcious 
of  Vvhat  thou  didft  in  filence 
and  fecrecy  under  the  fig- 
tree  ?  —  Be  afTured  that  thy 
faith  in  me  fnall  be  confirm- 
ed by  more  ftriking  and  il- 
luflrious  proofs : 

52  For  you  fhall,  for  the 
future,  behold   the  nioH:  fig- 


f  Tho' he  had  never  feen  him  before,  he  faluted  him,  immediate]/, 
by  /j!s  name  and  his  father'' s  name. 

g  Which  rig;nifies  a  Rock — prophetically  referring  to  Ms  laying  ihejirfl 
yow/7iY«//o;?  of  the  Chriilian  church.      See  Afts.  ■  ,  :,.r.j_p;;r- •  t  .        ■ 

^  Probably,  he  had  been  praying, 

nal 


286 


T!he  Hiilory  ^  J  e  s  u  s  Chap.  il. 


rial  interpofitions  of  heaven 
in  my  favour  —  you  iLall  fee 
the  iky  fever,  and  the  blef- 
fed  angels  defcend  to  efcort 
the  fon  of  man  up  to  the  ce- 
leltial  regions '. 

CHAP.   II. 

1  qpHREE  days  after 
-*•  this  there  was  a  mar- 
riage celebrated  in  Cana  of 
GaTilee- — and  the  mother  of 
Jefus  was  one  of  the  compa- 
ny. 

2  Jefus  and  the  four  difci- 
ples  above-mentioned  were 
alfo  invited  to  the  nuptial  en- 
tertainment. 

3  Their  wine  proving  de- 
ficient, his  mother  faid  to 
him^ — Son  !  the  wine  is  quite 
exhauiled ! 

4  Jefus  fard  to  her —  Mo- 
ther! it  is  not  for  yo^i''  to 
diflaCe  to  me  when  1  am  to 
exert  my  miraculous  power 
—  The  time  of  my  public 
miniftry  in  this  country  is  not 
yet  arrived. 

5  His  mother  calls  the 
waiters,  and  fays — Whatever 


my  fon  bids  you  do,   be  fure 
you  obey  him. 

6  There  were  in  the  houfe 
fix  ftone  water-vefiels,  placed 
according  to  the  Jewilh  rite 
of  purification,  which  con- 
tained each  about  two  or 
three  firkins. 

7  Jefus  faid  to  the  fer- 
vants — Fill  thefe  vefTels  with 
water — They  filled  them  all 
up  to  the  top. 

8  Jefus  then  faid  —  Draw 
out  fome  of  the  liquor,  and 
carry  it  to  the  governour  of 
the  fead. 

9  When  the  mafter  of  the 
ceremonies  tailed  the  water, 
now  converted  into  moft  ex- 
cellent wine — he  was  aftonifli- 
ed  —  he  could  not  imagine 
fiOw  they  obtained  it  —  The 
fervants  only,who  had  brought 
him  th<?  liquor  knew  this  — 
He  infbanLly  calls  the  bride- 
groom to  him, 

10  and  fays — It  is  always 
cuftomary  at  an  entertain- 
ment to  brino;  out  the  beft 
w'mQ  firjt — and  when  the  tafte 
of  the  company  is  blunted 
with  drinking  it  is  ufual   to 


*  Referring  ro  his  Afcenjion. 

"  The   phrafe   ri  iuoi  Kai  (T--/  ought  rather  to  have  been  tranflated. 
What  have  ycu  to  do  with  mi'.     Thub  Jnacreon  : 

O-ji'iv  i^i  SOI  Ti  xa-uii.     OJc  24.  356. 

Corroding  cares  !   let  me  be  free  : 
What  have  you  to  do  with  me. 

2  bring 


Chap.  it. 


h  J 


bring  them  wine  of  an  inferi- 
our  Ibrt — You  have,  it  fcems, 
reverfed  this  cuftom — for  you 
have  referved  your  belt  wine 
to  the  lafi, 

1 1  This  miracle,  which 
Jefus  now  performed  in  Cana, 
was  the  firft  that  he  ^  pubhck- 

ly  wrought Vif:.\-^  it  was 

that  he  firft  openly  difplayed 
that  tranfccndent  power  with 
which  he  was  endowed^ — by 
which  his  four  difciples  were 
convinced  that  he  was  the 
Meffiah. 

§ — 12  After  this  he  went 
down  to  Capernaum,  accom- 
panied with  his  mother,  his 
brothers,  and  his  difciples 
—  but  rpent  only  a  few  days 
in  that  town, 

1 3  For  the  Jewifh  paflbver 
was  near,  and  he  went  up  to 
Jerufalcm  to  celebrate  that 
Iblemn  fcftival. 

14  Upon  his  entering  the 
temple  he  found  great  num-  ■ 
bers  of  men  induftrioufly  em- 
ployed in  felling  oxen,  fheep 
and  doves  for  the  facrifice, 
and  the  bankers  fitting  in 
their  offices,  and  engaged  in 
giving  Jewifh  coin  in  ex- 
change for  foreign. 

1 5  When  he  law  this  bufy 
fcene,  he  made  a  fcourge  — 
and  with  an  authority,  v/hich 
none  could    rcfift,    expelled 


O   H   N.  2S7 

out  of  the  temple  all  the  fel- 
lers, and  the  oxen  and  Iheep 
they  expofed  to  falc,  over- 
turned the  tables  of  the 
bankers,  and  Icattered  their 
money  upon  the  pavement : 
16  Saying  to  thofe  who 
fold  doves,  Take  away  thefe 
ftands  inftantly  out  of  the 
temple,  and  convert  not  my 
father's  houfe  into  a  conveni- 
ent place  for  you  to  tranfa(5t 
fuch  fordid  and  mercenary 
commerce. 

1 7  Thefe  tranra<5i:ions 
brought  to  the  difciples  re- 
membrance the  following  ap- 
pofite  pafTage  of  fcripture  — 
"  The  flame  ot  thy  zeal  for 
the  honour  of  the  temple 
hath  devoured  thee." 

18  After  this  the  Jews 
came  about  him  and  faid  — 
What  proof  do  you  produce 
of  your  being  authorized  to 
aft  in  this  public  manner.'* 

19  Jefus  replied — Demo- 
lifli  this  temple — and  in  three 
days  time  I  will  ere6l  it  in 
all  its  former  perfedion  and 
glory. 

20  The  Jews  anfwered  — 
This  temple  was  the  labour 
of  fix  and  forty  years  —  and 
art  thou  able  to  rear  fuch  a 
vail  and  {lately  ftrudure  in 
three  days ! 


'  Becaufe  it  appears  that  he  had  before  wrought  ^yi-vate  miracles,   by 
his  mother  bidding  the  waiters  obey  hi^. 

21  Jefus 


288 


T^he  Hiflory  of  Jesus  Chap*  iiu 


21  Jt^fus  only  meant  the 
temple  of  his  body. 

22  This  incident  of  his 
life  the  difciples  recollefled 
after  his  refurredtion — and  it 
ferved  to  eftablifh  their  belief 
in  thofe  prophecies  v/hichpre- 
didled  his  death,  and  to  con- 
firm   the  truth   of  thofe  dif- 


rfes,    in    which    he 


had 

and 


courles, 

foretold  his  crucifixion 

rcfloration  to  life. 

23  During  this  feftival, 
which  he  celebrated  in  Jeru- 
falem,  many  were  convinced 
that  he  was  the  Meffiah  by 
the  amazing  miracles,  which 
they  faw  him  perform. 

24  Jefu^  however  did  not 
repofe  any  fanguine  confi- 
dence   in    their    fidelity     to 

him  "^ for    he  perfeiTtly 

knew  the  princi{)les  and  dif- 
pofitions,  by  which  ail  men 
were  actuated. 

25  Nor  had  he  occafion 
for   any  man    to    atteft   the 


charafter  of  another — for  he 
infallibly  knew  by  what  in- 
ternal Iprings  and  motives 
every  perfon  was  governed. 

CHAP.  in. 

I  npPIERE  was  a  Phari- 
•*-      fee  called  "  Nicode- 
mus,    a   member  of  the  San- 
hedrim. 

2  This  gentleman  private- 
ly flole  to  Jefus  in  the  file  nee 
of  the  night  to  have  an  inter- 
viev/  with  him — and  thus  ac- 
cofted  him — Illuflrious  teach- 
er !  we  conclude  that  you  are 
invefi:ed  with  a  divine  com- 
mifilon  to  inftrudl  mankind, 
from  the  ilupendous  miracles 
you  perform— —fuch  as  it  is 
impofilble  for  any  perfon  to 
exhibit,  if  not  delegated  and 
authorized  by  the  Deity. 

3  Jefus  faid  to  him — Let 
me  folemnly  afiure  you  that 
if  any  man's  notions  be  not 
recftificd  °,   and   he  be  born 


""  Becaufe  he  knev/  tliat  the  great  nnd  leading  men  would  prevail 
with  them  to  abjure  his  caufj,  and  renounce  their  attachment  to  him. 
It  appears  from  Jc/ephus,  as  well  as  the  Ne-jc  Tejlament,  that  the  Popu- 
lace was  entlrc-ly  at  the  devotion  of  the  Phurifces.     Tiirat/TJii'   ^i  iynai 

•/ATer.  efs'/iii:uu  '.v^vf  T/r'y^.  *'  They  had  fuch  prodigious  influence 
en  the  populace,  that  whatever  they  fpokc  even  againft  an  Emperor  or 
an  Highpriclt  was  indantly  credited  by  them."  Jo/.  Ant.  Lib.  15.  C.  10. 
§  5.  Hu-.if.  This  palfage  excellently  explains,  what  would  be  other- 
wife  abfolutely  uraccoumable,  that  the  /i-wc  people  were  capable  of  cry- 
ing Hofar.na!  and  crucify  !  almoft  v/ith  the  fcane  breath. 

"  Nicodemus  is  a  irrcik  proper  name,  and  occurs  in  Plutarch^s  Life  of 
Pclopidai.  Nccefiary  indeed  for  that  poor  wretch  Nicodemus.  Edit.  Steph. 
8vo.  p.  509. 

"  The  delign  of  Nicodemus'  vifit  to  our  Lord  was  to  found  him  about 
erefling  a  culat-  kinpdom.  Jefus  knew  his  defign  —  and  expofed  the 
felly  and  aofurdity  of  his  expedation  of  temporal  grandeur. 

from 


Chap.  iii.  hy   J 

from  above  p,  he  will  not  em- 
brace the  golpel. 

4  To  this  Nicodemus  re- 
plied— How  is  it  pofTible  for 
a  man  advanced  in  years  to 
receive  a  fecond  birth  ? 

5  Jefus  aniwered  —  fufFer 
me  in  the  moil  folemn  man- 
ner to  declare,  If  any  one  is 
not  morally  regenerated,  and 
is  not  what  the  waftiing  with 
water  figuratively  imports, 
he  will  not  be  difpofed  to 
embrace  the  gofpel. 

6  There  is  a  "^  literal^  and 
there  is  2.  figurative^  birth. 

7  You  need  not  exprefs 
furprife  at  my  aflerting  that 
x\\z  notions  of  you  Jews  muft 
be  redtified,  and  yourfelves  be 
born  from  above. 

8  As  the  wind  blows  in  all 
diredions   from  every  point 

• and  tho'  the  found  of  it 

llrike  the  ear,  yet  none  can 
tell  from  what  repofitory  it 
comes,  or  what  regions  it  vi- 
fits,  after  it  hath  pafied  him — fo 
imperceptible   and   extenfive 


O   H   N.  289 

(Hall  be  the  progrefs  of  the 
golpel,  and  converts  to  it  be 
coUeded  in  every  climate. 

9  Nicodemus  aniwered  — 
How  is  it  pofTible  that  thefe 
events  fhould  ever  happen  ! 

10  Jefus  replied  —  Can  *^o 
learned  and  celebrated  a  Rab- 
bi be  ignorant  of  thefe  truths  ! 

1 1  I  can  folemnly  afilire 
you  that  I  fpeak  from  cer- 
tain knowledge,  and  attell 
only  fads,  for  the  veracity  of 
of  which  I  have  had  the  moll 
undoubted  evidence — and  yet 
you  are  not  difpofed  to  credit 
my  teflimony. 

1 2  If  I  tell  you  thefe  plain 
and  fimple  truths  and  you 
will  not  credit  them — how 
could  you  reiifli  and  embrace 
more  fublime  and  myderious 
difcovcries ! 

13  None  of  the  former 
prophets  was  ever  admitted 
into  the  feats  of  celeflial  joy  . 
in  order  to  attefl  to  men  the. 
reality  and  haopinefs  of  this 
ftate — -the  fon  of  man,  who  is 


P  hvu^iv  never  figniiles  aga'ni,  but  always  abc-je.  Kva^iV  yirtTa.Qd.ffn', 
a  dcfcent  from  above.  Flut.  Numa.  122.  Kv^^iv  7tj(  vicoi  from  above 
the  fhip.  id.  -Tbeaufi.  p.  214.  fir«  //n-Tsi'  £//Tscrs/!'  luv  AvojQiv,  that  no- 
thing might  fall  from  above,  id.  Pericl.  p.  303.  KatiJ^uv  ctvuB-v,  look- 
ing frcrn  above,  id.  Marcel,  p.  561.  An  alp  was  brought  among  fome 
iigs,  which  was  covered  over  with  leaves,  cLt'uQiv  st/  x.ctAo®-&j/crrff.  id. 
Jni07i.  1747.  Obferve  alfo  the  oppoiition  in  the  following  PafTage.  ^uta 
rroWet,  to,  fj-iv  Kctrctidiv  iicTn,  ret  J'i  Aw^iv-  Many  lights,  fome  from 
helcw,  feme  from  above.  Plutarch  A'id,\.Wi,  p.  1895.  Ed.  Gr.  Steph.2vo. 
Every  good  gift  defcends  fom  above,  xctTaCiLivov  oti'uQir.  James  i,  17. 
The  .wifdom  that  cometh  from  above,  civuQiu  icdtripyjuivv,  Ch.  iii.  ir'. 

1  The  words  ^^.p^  and  yrvzvucf.  ar^  cl'ten  ufcd  to  fignify  the  literal  Siad 
figitratinje  fenfe.    See  Chap.  vi.  (>i> 

Vol.  I.  U  defcended 


296 


^he  Iliftofy  0/'  Jesus  Chap,  iii* 


defcendcd  on  earth,  was  the 
only  perfon  that  ever  refided 
in  thofc  blefled  abodes. 

14  But  as  Moles  fixed  the 
brazen  Icrpent  on  a  pole  in 
the  wildernefs-^in  the  fame 
manner  will  the  fon  of  man 
be  elevated  \ 

15  in  order  that  all  thofe 
v;ho  embrace  his  religion  may 
not  incur  everlafting  deftruc- 
tion- ■  -but  obtain  a  blelfed 
immortality  *, 

1 6  for  the  fupreme  God 
Avas  affeded  with  fuch  im- 
menfe  companion  and  love 
for  the  human  race,  that  he 
deputed  his  fon  from  heaven 
to  inllru6l  them  —  in  order 
that  every  one  who  embraces 
and  obeys  his  religion  might 
not  finally  peri  Hi,  but  fecure 
everlafting  happinefs. 

1 7  For  the  benevolent  fa- 
ther of  tlie  univerfe  did  not 
fend  his  fon  to  condemn  and 
punifh  mankind,  but  to  ref- 
cue  and  fave  them  from  miie- 
ry  and  ruin. 

18  lie,  Vv^ho  is  convinced 
of  the  truth  of  his  rehgion 
by  its   evidences,    fliall    not 

be   finally    condemned  -^^ 

but  he,  who  rejects  thefe 
proofs,  is  already  condemn- 
ed —  becaufe  he  wilfully  re- 
fufes  his  alfent  to  the  eviden- 
ces of  a  pcrfon's  miffion, 
whom  God  hath  invcfted  with 


the    greateft   authority    and 
povv'er. 

19  And  what  will  cxpofe 
fuch  to  this  future  condem- 
nation is,  that  God  hath  been 
pleafed  to  diffufe  among  men 
a  light  fo  tranfcerrtlently  glo- 
rious and  divine,  but  their 
judgments,  wilfully  deprav- 
ed, preferred  gloomy  dark- 
nefs  to  its  chearins;  and  facred 
beams. 

20  For  he  that  is  inflaved 
to  his  vices  abhors  the  lis;ht 
of  truth  and  virtue,  and 
dreads  to  approach  it,  left  the 
deformity  of  his  condu6t 
fliould  be  publickly  expofed : 

2 1  But  he  who  hath  a  fa- 
cred reo;ard  for  nioral  good- 
nefs  and  truth  advances  to 
the  light  with  confcious  bold- 
nefs— — that  his  aflions,  in  the 
moil  confpicuous  mannerj 
may  appear  to  have  proceed- 
ed from  religious  principles. 

§ — 22  After  this  inter- 
view with  Nicodemus  Jefus 
and  his  difciples  retired  into 
the  remote  parts  of  Judasa — 
where  he  continued  for  fome 
time  and  baptized. 

23  John  too  at  the  fame 
time  was  baptizing  at  a  place 
called  Enon  near  Salim^- 
where  there  was  plenty  of 
water — Flither  great  num- 
bers reforted  and  were  bap- 
tized by  him. 


Alluding  to  his  Crudfxion. 


24  For 


Chan.  iii. 


h  J 


24  For  tlie  events  hither- 
to related  of  Jekis  happened 
before  John's  imprilonment 
by  Herod. 

25  There  rofe  about  this 
time  a  warm  debate  between 
the  Jews  and  John's  dilbiples 
concerning  the  efiicacy  of 
their  mailer's  baptifm  for  the 
purpofes  of  purification. 

26  The  difciples  of  John 
therefore  came  to  him  and 
faid  — — .  Sir !  the  perfon  you 
baptized  on  the  other  fide  of 
Jorda/),  and  to  the  divinity 
of  vvhofe  charafter  you  gave 
fo  fignal  a  teltimony,  is  now 

baptizing and  prodigious 

crowds  from  all  parts  are 
flocking  to  him. 

27  John  replied-^ "  A 

man  cannot  aft  above  that 
particular  commiffion  and  of- 
fice, which  have  been  aflign- 
ed  him  by  heaven. 

28  "  You  are  witnefTes, 
that  I  aflerted  in  the  moft  ex- 
prefs  terms  that  I  was  not 
the  MelTiah  — -  but  was  only 
fent  on  purpofe  to  uflier  and 
introduce  him  into  the  world, 
and  to  give  public  notice  of 
his  com.ino;. 

29  "As  the  bridegroom's 
friend  fincerely  rejoices  to  hear 
him  txprefs  his  felicity,  and 
moft  cordially  fympathizes 
with  him  in  his  confcious  hap- 
pinefs — fo  the  report  of  Jefus' 
increasing  flime  fills  my  breaft 
with  the  highcft  traniports : 


0  l-i  N.  291^ 

30  "  For  »2v 'fame  wilt  di- 
miniili,  his  be  augmented, 

31  "  He  who  defcended 
on  earth  fi-om  the  celetVial  re- 
gions hath  a  dignity  infinite-*  " 
ly  fuperiour  to  all  others  — 
mine  original  is  purely  terref-" 
trial,  and  my  k'nowlege  is 
folely  confined  to  terrellrial 
things — but  that  divine  per- 
fon v/ho  left  the  regions  of  im- 
mortality is  a  moll  facred  and 
illuftrioijs  characler;ifKJioa'srai 

32  "  But  tho'  this  exalted 
perfonage  freely  publilhes 
and  foiemnly  attel^s  thofe 
heavenly  doftrines,  v/hich  he 
hath  received  from  the  moft 
intimate  and  endearing  con*- 
verfc  with  the  Supreme  Fa- 
ther in  the  manfions  of  eter- 
nal happinefs — yet  the  gene- 
rality of  men  rejeft  his  telli- 
mony. 

II  "  But  every  one,  who 
hath  admitted  his  facred  and 
infallible  teflimony,  fets  hisi 
feal  to  God's  veracity  in  amp" 
ly  fulfilling  his  prcdicftions. 

34  "  For  this  illuflrious 
meifenger,  whom  God  hath 
now  delegated  on  this  impor- 
tant errand,  is  commiirioned 
to  reveal  to  rnankind  the  gra- 
cious defigns  and  counfels  of 
God— -for  God  doth  not  en- 
dow him  witli  fpii'itual  gifts 
and  powers  in  2.,  partial  and 
limited  mannet^;*!''  w)0  rmt/':  ■ 

2,0  ''''  The  fupremc  Father 

lovcth   his   fon  and  hath  in- 

U   2  vea'^d 


292 

yefted  him  with  full  authori- 
ty and  univerfal  dominion. 

36  "  He  therefore  that 
embraces  and  obeys  his  doc- 
trines will  fecure  eternal  life 
►—but  on  him  who  wilfully 
difobeys  and  rejefls  them,  the 
wrath  of  the  Almighty  Hiall 
be  infiidled,  and  his  life  fliall 
be  extinguilhed  to  all  eterni- 

"^       CHAP.  IV. 

1   \K7  HEN  Jefus  under- 

▼V  ftood  that  the  Pha- 
rifecs  had  received  informa- 
tion of  his  colledting  and  bap- 
tizing greater  numbers  of  dif- 
ciples  than  John, 

2  —  tho'  it  was  not  Jefus 
that  baptized  but  his  dif- 
ciples — 

3  to  avoid  their  refentment, 
he  quitted  Judaea,  defigning 
•to  retire  into  Galilee. 

4  The  road  he  v/as  to  tra- 
-vtl  lay  through  Samaria. 

5  In  his  journey  therefore 
he  arrives  at  a  town  belong- 
ing to  the  Samaritans,  called 
Sichar  —  contiguous  to  that 
tftate,  which  the  patriarch 
Jacob  bequeathed  as  an  inhe- 
ritance to  his  fon  Jofeph. 

.  6  Near  this  town  was  Ja- 
cob's well  —  Jefus  arriving 
liere  about  fix  o'clock  in  the 
evening  fat  down  on  the  fide 


Th  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  iv. 

of  the  well,  faint  and  fatigued 


with  travelling. 

7  But  as  he  was  here  re- 
pofing  his  wearied  limbs,  a 
Samaritan  woman  came  to 
draw  water  —  Jefus  begged 
fhe  would  let  him  drink. 

8  —  for  his  difciples  were 
gone  into  the  town  to  buy 
provifions — 

9  The  woman  replied  — 
I  am  aftonifhed  how  You, 
who  are  a  Jew,  can  afk  wa- 
ter of  a  Samaritan  —  for  the 
Jews  have  not  the  leaft  friend- 
ly intercourfe  with  the  Sama- 
ritans. 

I  o  Jefus  faid  to  her  —  If 
you  knew  the  illuftrious '  gift 
of  God  to  mankind,  and  the 
dignity  of  that  perfon  who 
folicits  this  fmall  favour  from 
you,  inftead  oi  bis  requefting, 
you  would  have  importuned 
him  to  confer  fome  rich  blef- 
fmg  upon  you,  and  he  would 
have  freely  refreshed  you 
with  water  from  the  molt 
pure  and  perennial  fpring. 

II  Sir!  (lie continued, How 
is  it  polTible  you  could  give 
me  the  water  you  boaft — as 
you  have  no  bucket,  and  the 
well  is  immenfely  deep  ! 

12  Are  you  a  perfon  of 
greater  eminence  tlian  our 
illuftrious  anceftor  Jacob, 
who  dug  this  well  to  fupply 


=  Thus  Socrates  calls  himfelf  the  G//t  of  God  to  the  Athenians,    Tnv   7* 
OsK  S'aijiv  VIJ.IY'     PlatOy  Apolog.  Socrat.  p.  93.     Fojhr.     Oxon.  iJS^. 

himfelf. 


Chap.  iv.  by    J 

himfelf,  his  family,  and  his 
flocks  with  water ! 

13  Jefus  anfwered  —  The 
water  of  this  fountain  can 
only  allay  a  momentary  third, 
which  is  fure  to  return,  and 
rage  with  the  fame  violence 
as  before : 

14  But  he,  that  is  refrefh- 
ed  with  that  cooling  and  fa- 
lutary  water  that  I  impart, 
fhall  never  feel  the  unea- 
fy  fenfations  of  thirft  any 
more  for  ever  —  but  the  wa- 
ter he  receives  from  mine 
hand  fhall  prove  in  him  an 
indefeflible  fource  of  a  pure 
and  tranfparent  flream,  that 
will  flow  through  all  the  ages 
of  eternity. 

1 5  The  woman  replied  — 
Do,  Sir  !  then  give  me  fome 
of  this  excellent  water  which 
you  fay  is  fuch  a  fovereign 
remedy  to  expel  thirft,  that 
I-  may  not  for  the  future  have 
the  trouble  of  coming  to  this 
fountain  any  more. 

16  Jefus  then  faid  to  her 
— Go  into  the  town,  and  bid 
your  hufl3and*:ome  hither. 

17  I  have  no  hufl^and,  flie 
replied  —  You  fay  very  true, 
faid  Jefus  that  you  have  no 
hufl^and : 

■^'  18  You  have  had  indeed 
live  — ' —  but  the  perfon  with 
whom  you  now  cohabit  is  not 


O   H   N. 


you 


293 
very 


your   huflDand  as 
juftly  declare. 

19  The  woman  in  amaze- 
ment cried — -Sir!  this  con- 
vinces me  that  you  are  a  pro- 
phet ! 

20  As  I  am  therefore  now 
perfuaded  that  you  are  inveft- 
ed  with  a  prophetic  charac- 
ter, be  pleafcd  to  folve  the 
difficulty  I  propofe — Our  pi- 
ous anceftors  paid  their  reli- 
gious adorations  on  this  very 
mountain — You  Jews,  on  the 
contrary,  aflert  that  Jerufa- 
lem  is  the  place,  in  which 
the  Deity  hath  appointed  that 
his  worfiiip  fiiall  be  celebrat;* 
ed.         . 

2 1  Jefus  faid  to  her — You 
may  depend  on  the  truth  of 
what  I  now  folemnly  declare 
—  The  time  will  foon  arrive 
when  all  religious  worfliip 
that  is  off'ered  both  in  Jerufa- 
lem  and  on  this  mountain, 
Ihall  be  fatally  interrupted 
and  ceafe  ^ 

22  You  pay  your  religious 
homage  to  the  creature  of 
your  wild  and  abfurd  imagi- 
nation— we  Jews  are  not  mif- 
takcn  in  the  objed  of  our 
worlhip-— to  the  Jews  was  re- 
vealed, and  the  Jews  now 
worfliip,  the  one  only  fupreme 
Divinity. 

23  But  a  new  difpenfation 


'  Referring  to  the  deftiu<flion  of  Jerufalem. 

u  3 


will 


294 

will  be  eftablifiied'-^^whick'  is 
indeed  ciheady  commenced  --- 
under  which  the  only  true  and 
scceptabJe  worPnippers  of  the 
Deity  will  be  thofe  who  v/or- 
fliip  him  with  genuine  purity 
and  integrity  of  mind — For 
theiv  are  indifpenfable  quali- 
ties which  the  Deity  folcly  re- 
gards in  his  votaries  ". 

24  God  is  a  pure  and  per- 
fe6t  mind  —  and  thole,  who 
oB'er  him  their  religious  ho- 
mage, puj^ht  to  addrels  him. 
with  virtuous  lincerity  and 
reftitude  of  heart. 

25  I  know,  refumed  the 
woman,  when  the  great  Mef- 
fiah  comes,  he  will  foive  all 
our  diincukies. 

26  Jelus  laid  to  her  —  the 
perfon,  with  whom  you  have 
been  converfing,  is  the  Mcl- 
fiah. 

27  Here  the  difciples  came 
np  and  were  amazed  to  find 
him  engaged  in  conference 
with  a  Samaritan  woman  — — 
Kone  of  them  however  ark- 


7he  Hillory  of  Jesus  Chap.dvi 


cd  him  the  reafon  of  his  con- 
verfing with  her. 

28  But  the  woman  the 
moment  fhe  heard  the  above 
mentioned  declaration,  left 
her  pitcher,  and  run  xvith  tr.e 
utmoft  precipitation  into  the 
town  —  faying  to  every  one 
{h(t  met,  rr  vrlinur  - 

29  Come!  fee  a  rnan,  who 
hath  told  me  all  the  moft  le- 
cret  incidents  of  my  pall  life  ! 
—  He  can  be  no  other  than 
the  Mcffiah. 

qo  They  all  flocked,  ac- 
cordingly, out  of  the  town, 
and  hafted  to  fee  this  remark- 
able perfon.  ^'  • 

31  During  this  tranfa6Lion 
the  difciples  begged  hewoviki 
partake  of  that  refreflimenr 
they  had  juft  purchaieu. 

32  To  thefe  entrearicvne 
anlwered  -—  1  am  fdrnjihied 
with  refrediment,  to  "Which 
you  are  ftrangers. 

'^'^    The  difciples  hearing 

rhis,  laid  one  to  another 

Hath   any    perfon     brought 
"nanuD  -itfOiiV'  • 


"  The  r)n!y  acceptable  manner  of  woifliipping  the 'I^eity  is -to 'be  iijce 
him  in  the  temper  and  difpclltion  of  the  mind.  Hicrcclcs.  "  l^jthqgiras 
conceived  of  the  firll  luprcme  Caufe,  not  as  a  Being  liable  tc  pallions 
and  nfre^lions,  but  as  a  pure,  invifiblq,  confcioiis  Intcllif^erice.  liitmAXto 
proiiibited  the  Romc^n:  Irom  reprefenting  the  Divinity  under  auy  human 
/hap;?,  or  io  t'le  iigure  of  any  animal.  In  confequt-nce  of  which  ftricl 
prohibition  thy /"-y;' Romans  had  not  in  their  temples,  for  170  years, 
cither  pi<^ure  or  Itatue  to  rcprefent  the  Deityl  They  erefted,  indeed, 
during'  this  period,  fev«Tal  temples  and  fanes,  but  they  were  wholly 
dertitiue  of  any  external  exhibitions  of  the  Supreme.  It  being  ac- 
counted the  iiigheft  irreverence  to  aflimilate  the  Greatell:  and  Bell  to 
the  vllffl  and  worll ;  fince  the  Deity  can  be  apprehended,  no  otherwife 
ifhan  by  the  miiid."    i'<W«rfy  Numaj  p.  11 3.    Jidii,  (Ji'.$)f.^b.%y^.  ^ 

him 


^    J  O   H   N. 

while 


we 


Chap.  IV. 

him    provifions, 
have  been  abfent  ? 

34  Jefiis  faid  to  them — 
Mine  only  refrefhment  and 
happinefs  is,  to  obey  the  wili, 
and  accomplilh  the  defigns 
of  him  who  fent  me. 

35  There  are  you  know  four 
months  yet  to  the  harveft  — 
But  look  over  yonder "'  fields — 
What  a  glorious  harveft  they 
contain  !  — already  ripe,  and 
fit  to  be  gathered  in  !  — 

36  And  he  who  is  induf- 
trioufly  employed  in  reaping 
and  colledling  this  invaluable 
harveft  into  the  repofitory  of 
eternal  life,  fhall  be  abundant- 
ly recompenfed  for  his  faith- 
ful and  diligent  labours  — 
and  both  the  fower  and  reaper 
fhall  mutually  ihare  the  moft 
exalted  joys. 

37  But  the  prefentoccaiion 
verifies  the  old  adage —  "  One 
fows  the  fe^d,  but  another 
reaps  the  harveft." 

3  8  For  I  fend  you  to  reap 

a  rich    and    plentiful   crop, 

whofe  culture  never  cofc  you 

any  labour — Your  "  predecei- 

fors   with  great  fatigue  pre- 

p,pared  the  foil  —  but  you  will 

irreap  all    the    advantages  of 

'  their  afliduous  pains. 

39  Great  numbers  accord- 
ingly of  the  inhabitants  of  that 


295 

town  believed  him  to  be  the 
iMefiTiah  —  convinced  by  the 
teftimony  of  the  woman,  who 
declared  that  he  had  recount- 
ed to  her  all  the  principal  cir- 
cumftances  of  her  paft  life. 

40  The  Sam.aritans,  there- 
fore, begged  he  would  fix  his 
refidence  among  them  —  But 
he  ftayed  only  in  the  town 
two  days. 

41  During  which  time 
much  greater  numbers  were 
convinced  by  his  difcourfes 
that  he  was  the  Melliah. 

42  And  they  faid  to  'the 
woman-— We  are  not  induced 
folely  by  your  folemn  decla- 
rations to  credit  his  preten- 
fions  — but  we  have  .heard 
his  divine  doctrines,  and  are 
upon  the  beft  evidence  per- 
fuaded  that  this  moft  illuf- 
trious  perfon  is  the  real  Mef- 
fiah  and  Saviour  of  the  world. 

§—43  Aft  E  R  thele  two  days 
were  elapfed,  he  left  the  town 
and  travelled  into  Galilee. 

44  But  did  not  choofe  to 
take  Nazareth  in  his  road — . 
for  it  was  a  maxim  with  him. 
That  no  public  inftruftor 
meets  with  refpeft  in  his  own 
country. 

45  Upon  his  arrival  in  Ga- 
lilee, the  men  of  that  country 
cordially   received    him,  and 


"■"  Which  were  then  covered  with  Samaritans,   flocklns;  to  fee  and  con- 
t'crfe  with  him. 

*  John  the  EaptiR,  and  himfelf. 

U  4  were 


296 


ne  Hiftbry  of  J  e^  u  s  Chap.  v. 


were  convinced  of  his  pro- 
phetic character having 

lately  been  fpedators  of  the 
miracles  he  had  performed  in 
Jerufalem  at  the  pafchal  fo- 
lemnity. 

46  Jefus  meeting  with  this 
kind  and  candid  reception, 
went  again  to  Cana,  where 
he  had  converted  the  water 
into  wine — While  he  was  in 
tiiis  town  a  nobleman,  whofe 
Ion  was  dangeroully  fick  at 
Capernaum, 

47  being  informed  that 
Jcfus  had  removed  from  Ju- 
dsa  into  Galilee,  travelled 
to  Cana  •—  aiid  waiting  upon 
him  requefled  him  to  go 
down  with  him,  and  mira- 
culoiifly  heal  his  fon,  ofwhofe 
recovery  there  were  now  no 
hopes. 

48  Jefus  faid  to  him  ■*-—  if 
I  do  not  exhibit  before  you 
amazing  miracles  and  prodi- 
gies, you  will  not  credit  my 
pretenfions. 

49  The  nobleman  anxi- 
oufly  repeated  his  requefl, 
begging  he  would  haiten, 
before  his  dear  child  de- 
parted. 

50  Jefus  faid  to  him  — 
Return  home  —  Your  child 
is  inperfed  health — The  gen- 


tleman believed  the  words  of 
Jefus,  and  left  him  chearful 
and  fatisfied. 

51  On  his  return  he  was 
met  by  his  fervants  —  who 
affured  him  that  his  fon  was 
perfectly  recovered. 

52  The  nobleman  afked 
them,  at  what  hour  they  had 
obferved  him  to  grow  better? 
—  Yeilerday,  they  replied, 
about  {twtvi  o'clock  every 
feverifli  fymptom  inftantly 
vaniihed,  and  he  was  rein- 
ftated  in  perfect  health  in  a 
moment. 

e^l  The  nobleman  then 
knew,  that  it  was  that  very 
hour  that  Jefus  had  pronoun- 
ced the  words,  and  allured 
him  of  his  recovery — By  this 
fignal  miracle  he  and  his 
whole  family  were  convinced 
that  Jefus  was  the  MelTiah. 

54  This  was  the  fecond 
miracle  that  Jefus  performed 
in  Galilee  after  his  removal 
out  of  Judaea. 

C  H  A  P.   V. 

I   'T^HE  Paflbver  of  the 
^      Jews  now  aj)prt>a'ch- 
ing  Jefus  went  up  to  Jeru- 
falem. 

2  There  is  in  the  city,  at 
the  Sheep-gate,     a   public'' 


)5.     Edit.  Gr.  H.  Stcph.     Am   tk 


y  KcWi-zCi^B^et  fignifies  a  5atb. 
yvfjiCnQpsti .     Plutarch.  Alex.   p.  1295 

ijiCDV.     Should  any  one  fall  into  a  little  hath,  or  into  the  midd  of  an 
■  nimenfe  ocean.    Plato  K^^wh.  Lib.  v.  332.  V'oJ.  I.     Edii.  Majpy. 

.  :  bath. 


Chap-.  V.  by   J  o 

bath,  called  in  Hebrew  Be- 

thefda,  or  the  houfe  of  jnercy^ 
(embeiliflied  with  five  Piazzas. 
•  3  In  thefe  Piazzas  lay  a 
great  number  of  unhappy 
objeds,  blind,  lame,  or  thole 
who  had  withered  limbs  — 
anxioufly  waiting  the  lenfible 
and  preternatural  movement 
of  the  water : 

4  For  an  Angel,  at  that 
particular  Iblemnity,  defcend- 
ed  into  the  bath,  and  vifibly 
put  the  water  into  a  violent 
agitation — The  very  firft  that 
went  into  the  bath,  after  this 
commotion  of  the  water,  was 
perfedly  cured  of  any  diftem- 
per  he  laboured  under,  how 
inveterate  and  obftinate  fo- 
ever. 

5  There  was  now  lying  in 
the  porticoes  of  this  bath  a 
miferable  objedt,  who  had 
been  in  a  wretched  condition 
eight  and  thirty  years. 

6  Jefus  fixing  his  eyes  up- 
on this  wretched  creature, 
and  knowing  that  he  had 
been  a  long  time  afflifted, 
aflced  him.  If  he  was  defirous 
to  be  cured  of  his  diftemper. 

,  7  The  unhappy  wretch  re- 
plied——-! have  no  friendly 
hand.  Sir!  to  help  me  into 
the  bath,  after  its  waters  are 
put  into  motion — but  all  my 
endeavours  to  obtain  relief 
from  the  faiutary  qualities 
then  imparted  to  it  are  always 
fure  to  be  rendered  ineffcdu- 


H  N.  297 

al  by  fomc  one  or  other  get- 
ting in  before  me. 

8  Jefus  faid  to  him — Rife 
— take  up  thy  bed  and  walk 
home. 

9  The  words  v/ere  no 
fooner  pronounced,  but  the 
man  was  inflantaneoufly  re- 
ftored  to  perfeil  health — He 
got  up  in  perfecl  vigour  — 
threw  his  bed  on  his  fhoulder, 
and  walked  out  of  the  bath 
—  This  miraculous  cure  was 
perform.ed  on  the  fabbath. 

10  The  Jews,  therefore, 
feeing  the  man  v;alking  along 
in  this  manner,  in  great  indig- 
nation rebuked  him,    faying 

Do  not  you  know  it  is 

the  fabbath  day .?  How  can 
you  profane  its  facred  reft  by 
carrying  fuch  a  burden  ! 

1 1  He  aniwered The 

perfon,  who  miraculoufly  re- 
moved my  diforder,  bad  me 
take  up  my  bed,  and  walk 
home. 

1 2  They  afl^ed  him,  Who 
it  was  that  had  prefumed  to 
make  him  violate  the  fabbath 
in  this  flagrant  manner. 

13  The  man  knew  not, 
who  it  was,  from  whom  he  had 
received  his  cure  — -  for  there 
being  a  great  crowd  in  the 
place  at  the  time  that  Jefus 
had  performed  this  miracle, 
he  conveyed  himfelf  private- 
ly and  imperceptibly  away. 

14  Some  time  after  this 
Jefus  happened  to  meet  with 

this 


293 


The  Hiflory 


this  man  in  the  temple,  and 
ihid  to  him — Thou  art  now 
reinftated  in  thy  former  health 
iind  eale — ^be  cautious,  for 
the  future,  of  relapfing  into 
any  wilful  fins,  left  a  more 
dreadful  calamity  be  inflicted 
upon  thee. 

15  The  man  tranfported 
with  gratitude  for  the  blef- 
fing  he  had  received,  went 
to  the  Jews,  and  in  a  flood 
of  joy  told  them — That  the 
name  of  his  benefactor,  to 
whom  he  was  indebted  for 
his  miraculous  cure,  was  Je- 
fus. 

16  This  information  vio- 
lently inflamed  their  rcfent- 
ments  ao;ainft  Tefus  —  and 
they  immediately  formed  a 
rcfolution  to  murder  him,  for 
his  prefuming  to  violate  the 
duties  of  the  fubbath  in  this 
egregious  manner. 

1 7  Jefus  laid  to  them  — 
My  father  from  the  creation 
of  the  world  hath  incelTantly 
worked  every  day  in  fupport- 
ing  the  frame  of  nature  by 
his  providence — and  it  is  in 
imitation  of  him  that  I  work, 
qnd  perform  benevolent  ac- 
tions every  day  indifcrimi- 
nately. 

1 8  This  greatly  exafpcrat- 
cd  the  Jews,  and  inftigated 
them  to  concert  meafures 
how  to  flied  his  blood — be- 
caufe  he  not  only  infringed 
tlie  facred  duties  of  the  lab- 
bath,    but  had  the   impious 


0/'  Jesus  Chap,  v, 

arrogance  to  call  the  Supreme 
Being  his  father,  and  to  place 
himlelf  upon  a  level  with  the 
Deity. 

19  Jefus  faid  to  them 1 

moil  folemnly  afllire  you. 
That  the  fon  doth  not  act  in 
this  manner  by  his  oivn  pro- 
per authority  and  power 

this  authority  he y^/^/v  derives 
from  the  father — to  whole  o- 
riginal  commifiion  and  ap- 
pointment he  conforms  his 
actions  and  conduct. 

20  For  the  father  hath 
been  pleafed  to  make  the  fon 
the  cbjeft  of  his  moll  aflecfti- 
onate  regards,  and  hath  en- 
dowed him  with  the  miracu- 
lous power  you  have  feen  ex- 
erted   and  he  will  enable 

him  to  perform  operations  tar 
more  Itupendous  than  thefe, 
that  will  excite  your  higheft 
aftonifhmcnt. 

21  For  example —  As  the 
Deity,  by  the  irrefiftible  exer- 
tion of  his  omnipotent  power 
can  reanimate  the  aflies  of  the 
dead,  and  infpire  them  with 
new  life  and  vigour — lb  is  the 
fon  empoweiwd  to  recall  into 
exiftcnce  the  deceafed  objects 
of  his  afl'edtion. 

22  Neither  will  the  fu- 
preme  Father,  at  the  general 
refurredion,  prefide  in  judg- 
ment over  the  human  race — 
This  mod  illuilrious  dignity 
of  judging  the  world  he  haili 
conferred  upon  his  f;>ii. 

23  And 


chap. 


V. 


by  J 


23  And  the  Deity  hath 
exalted  his  fon  to  this  diftin- 
guifhed  eminence,  in  order 
that  the  dignity  of  his  ftation 
and  office  mio;ht  eng-age  man- 
kind  to  honour  the  fon  in 
like  manner  as  they  honour 
the  fupreme  Father  of  all  — 
he,  who  treats  the  fon  with 
difrefpeft  and  contempt,  treats 
Vv'ith  difrefpeft  and  contempt 
the  blefied  God,  who  com- 
miffioned  and  fent  him  to  in- 
ftru6t  the  v/orld. 

24  In  the  mofl:  folemn 
manner  I  publickly  declare 
to  you.  That  he,  who  cordi- 
ally embraces  my  doftrines, 
and  is  perfuaded  that  I  aft  by 
a  divine  commilTion,  is  enti- 

•*tled  to  everlafting  life— —he 
fliall  not"  be  involved  in  the 
.final  condemnation  and  de- 
"^ftruftion  of  the  wicked. 

25  Be  afilired  of  this 


lemn  truth — 
coming,    and 


-The 


fo- 

time  is 
already 
dead 


hath 
icommcnced,  when  the 
■fhali  hear  the  voice  of  the  fon 
of  God,     and    be   informed 
"•with  new  life. 

«  26  For  that  power  and 
principle  of  communicating 
life,  which  the  Deity  origi- 
nally and  efientiaily  poflef- 
leth,  he  hath  been  pleafed  to 
confer  uDon  the  fon. 
■    27  And  he  hath  moreover 


O    H    N.  2p9 

appointed  the  Son  to  be  the  fi- 
nal Judge  of  mankind  —  ^  be- 
cause he  affumed  human  na- 
ture.   'oniJfiD  "^d -:— ylfi3  :  . 

28  Let  not  thefe  aflertions 
excite  your  wonder  and  aflo- 
nifhment- Be  affured  a  fo- 
lemn day  is  approaching,  in 
which  every  individual  of  the 
human  race  fhall,  in  their 
tombs,  hear  the  voice  of  the 
fon  of  God, 

29  be  all  reanimated  in  a 
moment — come,  out  of  their 

graves and  compofe  one 

vaft  affembly -Thofe  who 

have  lived  virtuous  lives  fhall 
be  pronounced  into  everlaft- 
ing happinefs  — •  thofe  v/ho 
have  lived  wicked  lives  fhall 
be  doomed  to  everlafting  de- 
ftruftion.   uiijai  OJ  fioiJuk'.    : 

30  The'tftiftfffiloi'i's'eper^- 
tions  I  perform  are  not  ow- 
ing to  any   efiential  power  I 

myfelf  poffefs I  derive  it 

folely  from  God — his  diftates 
are  the  meafure  of  my.  obedi- 
ence —  and  my  obedience  is 
founded  in  immutable  juftice 

■I  arrogate  no  honours  to 
myfelf — I  ftudy  only  to  pro- 
mote  the    honour  and  fulfil 


the  appointment  of  the  Dei- 
ty, who  invefted  me  with  this 
commifllon. 

31   If  I  lliould  require  you 
to  credit  my  pretenfions   up- 


?  Becaqfe  Jefus  raifed  feveral  from  the  dead  in  \\h  Ufi-tiir.c. 


And  confequenriy  having  once   been  cloathed  with  th 
with  thofe  he  judges,  he  is  thereby  qualified  to  be  an  equal 
Judge  of  its  intifmities  and  frailties. 


J  a  me  nature 
nd  candid 


on 


300  'The  Hiftory 

on  the  fole  aurhoriry  of  my 
own  teftimony,  I  Ihould  acl 
as  an  impoftor,  and  render 
the  truth  of  my  milfion  juftly 
fufpeded. 

32  An  illuilrious  perfon 
publickly  attelted  my  charac- 
ter, and  bore  a  true  and  ho- 
nourable teftimony  to  it. 

33  This  petfon  was  John 
the  Baptill",  to  whom  you  fb- 
lemnly  deputed  Ipecial  mef- 
fengers — who  heard  and  deli- 
vered the  clear  and  explicit 
teftimony  he  gave  to  the  truth 
of  my  million  and  charadler. 

34  But  I  court  not  liuman 
teftimony,  or  Ibive  to  fecure 
it  in  my  favour — I  only  men- 
tion this  to  excite  you  impar- 
tially to  Weigh  the  evidence 
of  my  religion,  and  to  in- 
duce you  to  embrace  it  and 
be  happy. 

35  John  the  Baptlft,  who 
gave  fo  full  an  atteftation  to 
my  charader,  was  a  glorious 
lamp,  that  em.itted  the  moil 
pure  and  effulgent  fplendours 
around — but  tho'  thefe  ufeful 
beams,  at  firil,  appeared  grate- 
ful to  you,  after  fo  long  an  cx- 
tindlionofthe  prophetic  light, 
you  very  foon  grew  tired  ot 
tiiem,  and  wilfully  refufed  to 
enjoy  their  falutary  influence. 

36  But  I  can  produce  a 
teflimony  infinitely  more 
flrong  and  flriking  than  this 
ot  John  —  The  miraculous 
operations,  which  my  father 


of  Jesus  Chap,  v, 

hath  enabled  me  to  perform, 
carry  the  fulleft  conviction  in 
them,  and  are  an  irrefragable 
appeal  and  teftimony  to  the 
world,  that  the  Deity  hath 
lent  me. 

27  Thefe  are  public  proofs 
that  the  Deity,  who  lent  me, 
hatli  invefted  me  with  a  di- 
vine commifTion  — -•  But  you 
are  \o  incorrigibly  depraved 
and  prejudiced,  that  you  nei- 
ther liften  to  the  voice  of  the 
Deity  fpeaking  by  me,  nor 
difcern  the  plain  and  evident 
imprelTions  of  his  fupreme 
wildom  and  power  on  my 
pcribn  and  charafter. 

0,%  And  you  have  not  that 
reafon,  which  he  originally 
gave  you,  in  its  genuine  un- 
corrupted  ftate — for  you  dif- 
believe  and  reje6l  him  whom 
the  Deity  hath  fent  among 
you  with  fo  many  ftriking 
proofs  of  divine  authority. 

39  You  diligently  fearch 
and  critically  examine  the 
fcriptures,  becaufe  you  ima- 
gine the  promife  of  eternal 

life  is  contained  in  tliem ? 

Thefe  facred  books,  wliich 
you  fo  carefully  and  fedulouf- 
ly  explore,  give  the  molt 
plain  and  explicit  teftimonies 
of  my  character, 

40  And  yet  you  obftinate- 
ly  refufe  to  be  convinced  of 
the  truth  of  my  mifTion,  and 
will  not  embrace  my  doc- 
trines, tho'  eternal  life  is  of- 
fered 


Chap.  vl.  by    J 

fered  you,   if  you  will  admit 
and  obey  them. 

41  I  court  not  popular  ap- 
plaufe,  nor  ftrive  to  fecure 
from  any  man  glory  and  re- 
putation to  my  charafter. 

42  But  1  know  your  prin- 
ciples—  I  know  you  to  be 
deftitute  of  the  love  of  God 
and  religion, 

43  for  I  am  come  among 
you  veiled  with  the  full  autho- 
rity of 'my  father — and  yet 
you  rejeft  me — An  impoftor, 
who  hath  no  miraculous  pow- 
ers to  boaft,  and  nothing  but 
his  arrogance  to  recommend 
him,  finds  no  difficulty  to  in- 
gratiate himfelf  with  you,  and 
procure  a  favourable  recep- 
tion. 

44Buthowisitpofribleyou 
fiiould  believe  and  embrace 
my  religion,  who  are  folely 
pofTefled  with  the  love  of  po- 
pular glor)',  and  infpired  on- 
ly with  views  of  pride  and 
ambition  —  treating  with  the 
lowed  contempt  the  honour 
of  God,  and  the  dignity  of  re- 
ligion. 

45  Do  not  think  that  1 
fhall  be  the  only  one  wlio 
will  accufe  you  to  the  father 
for  your  infidelity  —  Mofes, 
your  great  lawgiver,  whofc 
character  you  elleem  fo  fa- 
cred,  will  accufe  and  con- 
demn your  preknt  condud". 


O  H  N.  301 

46  For  did  you  pay  any 
ferious  regard  to  Mofes,  you 
would  have  acknowledged 
my  prophetic  charadler — for 
this  legiflator  hath  charac- 
terized me  in  the  moft  plain 
andexprefs  terms*  gY[j|^_;|<^i^,rt 

47  But  if  you  treat  his 
writings  with  contempt  — 
what  reafon  can  I  have  to 
expecV  that  you  will  treat  the 
evidences  of  my  miffion  with 
refpedl ! 

CHAP.   VI. 

I  AFTER  this  Jefus  rc- 
J^  tired  into  Galilee  — 
and  crofTing  the  lake,  tra- 
velled into  that  part  of  tiie 
country  that  lay  contiguous 
to  the  city  Tiberias  ". 

2  Flither  he  was  accompa- 
nied by  a  prodigious  crowd, 
whole  curiofity  was  excited 
by  the  aftonifliing  miraculous 
cures  they  had  feen  him  per- 
form. 

3  From  this  multitude  Je- 
fus privately  retired  with  his 
difciples  to  a  neighbourinor 
mountain  —  where  they  fat 
down  to  repofe  and  rcfrefli 
themfelves. 

4  It  v/as  now  but  a  few 
days  to  the  Jev/ifh  Paflbver 
—  which  is  their  grand  reli- 
gious feltival. 

5  Jcfus,  as  he  reclined  on 
die    mountainj   keeping   his 


^   See  the  Cimbri.i,'»e  MS. 


eyes 


3 02  'The  Hiftory 

eyes  Rxed  on  the  vaft  crowds 
that  were  advancing  to  him, 
laid  to  Philip  —  Where  fhall 
Ave  buy  provifions  to  rcfrefh 
this  immenle  mukitude  ? 

6  This  he  faid  merely  to 
try  what  confidence  Philip 
repofed  in  his  miraculous 
power,  for  he  had  already 
determined  what  to  do. 

7  Philip  replied  —  Were 
we  to  expend  two  hundred 
denarii  in  provifions,  it  would 
be  far  from  furnifiiing  a  fuf- 
licient  repaft  for  fuch  an  in- 
iinite  number  of  people. 

8  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
brother,  who  was  one  of  his 
diiciples,  then  faid  to  him, 

9  There  is  a  fervant  here, 
who  has  five  barley  loaves 
and  two  fmall  filhes  —  but 
what  is  fuch  a  pittance  as  this 
among  fo  many  thoufands  ! 

10  Jefus  then  ordered  his 
difciples  to  make  the  multi- 
tude fit  down  on  the  grafs  — 
wiiich  was  very  deep  in  the 
place  in  which  this  was  tranf- 
afled-^ The  crowd  accord- 
ingly fat  down,  being  in  num- 
ber about  five  thouiand. 

1 1  Jefus  then  took  the 
loaves,  and  after  paying  his 
fervent  acknowledgements  to 
God,  diftributed  them  to  his 
diiciples,  and  they  to  the 
multitude,  vvho  fat  in  uni- 
form and  regular  companies 


of  Jesus  Chap,  vi* 

—  they  likewife  difpenfed  as 
much  of  tlie  fifli  as  any  per- 
fon  demanded. 

12  After  they  had  partook 
of  a  plentiful  entertainment 
and  were  all  fatisfied,  Jefus  faid 
to  his  difciples — See  that  you 
carefully  collect  the  irag- 
ments,  that  nothing  may  be 
wailed. 

1 3  They  carefully  colledl- 
ed  the  fragments  of  the  loaves 

and    fifhes which  filled 

twelve  bafl<e  ts. 

14  The  multitudes,  who 
were  prefent  on  this  occafion, 
and  were  fpeftators  of  this 
aftonifhing  miracle,  all  una- 
nimoufly  declared.  That  Je- 
llis  was  undoubtedly  that 
great  and  illuRrious  prophet, 
whom  their  facred  books  fo 
exprefsly  taught  them  to  ex- 
pect. 

15  Wherefore  Jefus,  con- 
fcious  of  tke  difpofitions, 
which  now  aduatcdtiiem,  and 
knowing  the  refolution  they 
had  formed  to  carry  him  a- 
v/ay  by  violence  and  proclaim 
him  the  Sovereign  ot  Judaea, 
took  care  to  elude  their  fan- 
guine  defigns  by  "  privately 
withdrav/ing  from  them,  a- 
lonc,  to  a  lolitary  mountain. 

16  In  the  evening  the  dif- 
ciples went  down  to  the  fide 
of  the  lake, 

1 7  and  embarked  on  board 


Undoubtedly  by  rendering  himfelf  invif:blc. 


a  vcfll'l. 


Chap.  vi.  fy   ] 

a  vefiel,  intending  to  crofs  to 
Capernaum  —  Darknefs  had 
now  enveloped  the  e'tirth, 
and  their  mailer  was  not  ar- 
rived. 

1 8  It  now  blew  a  ftorm, 
and  the  lake  was  greatly  agi- 
tated. 

19  When  they  were  about 
five  and  twenty  or  thirty  fta- 
dia  from  fliore,  they  defcried 
Jefus  walking  over  the  fur- 
face  of  the  deep,  and  advanc- 
ing towards  the  vefiel  —  The 
fight  filled  them  with  the  laft 
confternation. 

20  But  Jefus  foon  diffipated 
their  terrors  by  difcovering 
himfelf  to  them. 

21  They  then  in  a  flood 
of  tranfport  took  him  into 
the  veifel — and  foon  arrived 
at  the  place,  which  they  firil 
intended  to  make. 

22  The  next  day  the  mul- 
titude, who  were  yet  on  the 
oppofite  fnore,  finding  that 
there  was  no  other  vcffel,  but 
that  on  which  tlie  difciples 
had  gone  on  beard,  and 
knowing  that  Jeibs  Vva?  not 
in  their  company — 

23  —  There  were  indeed 
lying,  not  far  from  the  place 
where  Jefus  had  furnillied 
this  miraculous  entertain- 
ment, fcveral  vefiels  th^it  be- 
longed to  Tiberias — 

i:-,24  When   the  multitude, 
as  1  laid   beiore,   found  that 


0  H   N.  303 

Jefus  was  abfent  as  well  as 
his  difciples,  they  went  a- 
board  thefe  vefiels  belonging 
to  Tiberias,  and  croifed  over 
the  lake  to  Capernaum,  in 
fearch  of  Jefus.         -^jn  ' 

25  When  they  had  found 
him,  they,  in  amazemicnt, 
faid  to  him — Divine  inflruc- 
tor !  in  what  manner  did  you 
pafs  the  lake ! 

26  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
Affure  yourfelves  that  I  am 
confcious  that  you  make  thefe. 
anxious  enquiries  after  me 
not  from  any  convid;lon  which 
my  miracles  have  produced 
in  your  minds,  but  from  the 
hope  1  lliall  continue  to  fup- 
ply  you  with  food  in  the  man- 
ner I  have  lately  done. 

27  Be  not  fo  folicitous  in 
procuring  that  food  that 
ferves  only  to  nouriili  a  frail 
and  perifliing  body — but  let 
it  be  your  principal  concern  to 
acquire  that  food,  which  will 
render  the  foul  immortal 
throup;h  ail  the  ao-es  of  etcr- 

1  nity — This  food  the  fon  of 
man  is  commilBoned  to  dif- 
penfe,  and  his  commillioii 
hath  the  fupreme  Father  been 
pleafed  to  ratify  and  feal  by 
the  ilrongeft  evidences. 

2S  They  faid  to  him 

W'hat  lliall  we  do  in  order 
that  wc  may  comply  with  the 
purpofes  and  defigns  of  God  ! 

29  It  is  the  great  d(if]gn  of 
God, 


God,  replied  Jefus,  that  you 
fhould'be  convinced  that  I 
arfi  a  divine  mefiTcnger. 

30  What  pubhc  demon- 
ftration,  faid  they,  will  you 
give  us  that  you  arc  invefted 
•with  a  divine  authority  ? 
What  miraculous  operation 
will  you  exhibit  to  convince 
us  ? 

31  Our  anceflors,  conti- 
nued'they,  were  miraculouf- 
ly  lupplied  with  food  from 
heaven,  during  their  conti- 
nuance in  the  wildernefs,  as 
our  facred  books  teftify. 

0,2  That  food,  anlwcrcd 
Jelus,  by  which  your  proge- 
nitors were  then  miraculouOy 
fupported,  merits  not  to  be 
compared  with  that  true  and 
vital  food,  which  my  heaven- 
ly father  now  difpenfes  to  the 
world  by  me. 

33  For  that  divine  food, 
which  is  now  defcended  from 
heaven,  imparts  immortaUifc 
to  the  world. 

34  When  he  had  faid  this, 
they  cried  out — ''  Be  pieafed, 
Sir !  ever  to  fupply  us  v/ith 
this  celeftial  food ! 

35  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
*"  I  am  that  true  vital  food  I 
mentioned  —  He  that  admits 
and  digefts  it,  Hiall  be  for 
ever  free  from  the  painful 
fenfations  bcih  of  hunger  and 
of  third.  I 


T/jc  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  ?i. 

36  But  tho'  you  have  feen 
me  exert  fuch  miraculous 
powers,  you  are  determined 
not  to  be  convinced  that  I 
am  a  meflenger  from  God. 

37  But  notwithftanding 
your  incredulity,  every  one,. 
whofe  mind  hath  been  previ- 
oufly  influenced  with  a  facred 
knk  of  religion  and  virtue, 
will  chearfully  embrace  my 
do6trines,  and  he  who  thus 
embraces  them,  fhall  for  ever 
be  the  objed  of  my  molt  af- 
fedionate  love. 

38  For  I  defcended  from 
heaven  not  to  execute  a 
fcheme  of  mine  own  con- 
trivance,  but  to  accomplifh 


the  defigns  of  him  who  fent 
me  : 

39  And  this  is  the  defign 
of  him  who  fent  me.  That  I 
fhould  finally  loie  none  of  the 
pious  and  virtuous,  whom  the 
love  of  religion  hath  previ- 
oufly  difpofcd  to  embrace  my 
do6lrines — and  that  I  Ibould 
raife  them,  at  the  laft  day, 
to  the  pofTefllon  of  eternal 
life. 

40  It  is  the  gracious  de- 
fio;n  of  him  who  delegated 
me  to  inftrudt  mankind. 
That  every  one  who  is  per- 
lliaded  that  I  am  a  divine 
melfcnger,  and  wlio  cordi- 
ally embraces  and  obeys  my 
religion,  fliould    be   entitled 


••  Ironicullv. 


Meaning  his  dodrines. 


to 


Chap.  vL 


by   J  o  H  hf. 


to  everlafting  life —  and  that 
I  iliould  reward  him,  at  the 
general  refurreftion,  with  a 
blefied  immortality. 

41  This  difcoiirfe  excited 
the  difguft  and  indignation 
of  the  Jews,  becaufe  he  af- 
ferted  that  he  defcended  from 
heaven  ; 

42  and  they  contemptu- 
oufly  faid,  one  to  another  — 
Is  not  this  perfon,  who  arro- 
gates to  himfelf  fo  high  an 
original,  the  fon  of  Jofeph 
the  carpenter  ?  — ■  Do  not  we 
know  the  meannefs  and  ob- 
fcurity  of  his  family  ? — How 
can  he  have  the  impious  ef- 
frontery and  confidence  to 
tell  us,  that  he  defcended 
from  heaven ! 

43  Jefus  faid  to  them 

Let  not  the  meannefs  of  mine 
appearance  excite  your  aver- 
fion»and  contempt  of  me. 

44  For  notwithftanding  the 
obfcarity  of  my  birth,  every 
one,  who  hath  been  attraded 
by  the  love  of  God  and  good- 
nefs  will  come  and  embrace 
my  religion — and  fuch  a  fm- 
cere  and  virtuous  believer  1 
will  raife,  at  the  laft  day,  to 
the  inheritance  of  an  happy 
immortality. 

45  There  is  the  following 
pafiage  in  the  prophetic 
books,  "  They  fliall  all  be 
taught  of  God" — and  he  who 


hath  been  thus  inflrufted, 
and  hath  made  confcience  of 
performing  the  duties  which 
the  Deity  requires,  will  cor- 
dially embrace  my  religion. 

46  None  of  the  preceding 
prophets  was  ever  admitted 
to  any  perfonal  communica- 
tions with  the  Deity  —  the 
fon  of  man  is  the  only  one, 
wKo  ever  enjoyed  this  moil 
diftinguiflied  honour. 

47  Be  ye,  therefore,  fo- 
lemnly  affurcd.  That  every- 
one who  believes  and  obeys 
my  religion,  fhall  be  entitled 
to  eternal  life. 

48  I  am  the  food  that  im-" 
parteth  true  vital  nutriment 
to  every  one  v/ho  receiveth 
and  digefteth  ^  me. 

49  The  manna,  your  an- 
ceftors  eat  in  the  wildernefs, 
could  not  picfcrve  tliem  from 
death,  or  protra6t  the  period 
of  their  lives. 

50  But  the  bread,  that  is 
now  defcended  from  heaven, 
informcth  him  who  receiveth 
it  with  immortality. 

51  I  am  this  true  vital 
bread,  which  is  now  defcend- 
ed from  heaven  to  refrefh 
mankind  —  he  that  eateth  it 
fiiail  live  to  all  eternity-—— 
The  food  I  adminifter  is  my 
flefh,  which  I  freely  difpenle 
to  furnifli  an  immortal  rep  aft 
to  the  world. 


i  His  doftrines 


Vol.  r. 


52  Thefe 


52  -  Thefe  lafl:  words  occa- 
fioned  a  V'  hement  clamour 
and  uproar  among  the  Jews 
— They  faid,  one  to  another, 
How  can  this  man's  flefli 
ferve  for  food ! 

55  Jefus  faid  to  them  —  I 
in  the  moft  folemn  manner 
afivire  you,  That  unlefs  you 
digcft  the  flefh,  and  imbibe 
the  blood  of  the  Ion  of  man, 
you  have  no  claiin  to  a  bluff- 
ed immortality, 

54  For  he  only  that  eateth 
my  fiefti  and  drinketh  my 
blood  hath  a  title  to  eternal 

life to  the  poflefTion  of 

which  I  will  raife  him  at  the 
general  refurreftion. 

^■1,  For  m.y  ^  fleih  and  my 
blood  fupply  the  only  true 
vital  and  falutary  nutriment. 
,  56  He,  who  is  refrellied 
with  thefe,  is  unitetl  to  me 
by  the  llrongcft  and  moil  en- 
dearing bonds  of  affeftion 
and  love. 

57  As  tlie  great  Source 
of  life,  by  wliom  I  was  fent, 
hath  Communicated  to  me 
exigence,  fo  will  I  conimuni- 
catc  an  immortal  exillence  10 
every  one  Vv'ho  receiveth  and 
digelleth  this  food. 

^S  This  is  the  only  vital 
and  fubftantial  food,  which 
is  now  defcended  from  hca- 
ven-T-Not  like  the  food  your 


Tjbe  Hiftory  of  Jesus  Chap.  vi. 

anceftors   eat,     which   could 


only    allay    the    momentary 
pain  of  hunger,  which  would ~ 
loon  return,  and  of  which  all 
who  participated,  died — But 
the   food    I     difpenle,     will' 
nourifh  and  for  ever  maintain 
the  foul  in  immortal  vigour. 

59  This  difcourfe  was  de- 
livered in  the  place  of  religi- 
ous worlhip  in  Capernaum^ 
as  he  was  there  publickly  in- 
(Irufting  the  people. 

60  Great  numbers  of  his 
foliov/ers,  who  were  now  his 
auditors,  faid — How  abfurd' 
and    impoffible  is    this  docri 
trine  !    Who  is    there,    but 
mufu  be  difgufted  with  it ! 

61  Jefus,  being  confcious 
that  this  difcourie  had  very 
highly  offended  them,  faid  toj 
them — Doth  this  declaration- 
of  mine  high  original  Hiock 
you,  and   determine   you  to- 
apoitatize .''  ' 

62  What  if  you  fhould  fee 
me  afcend  to  thofe  celeftial 
regions,  in  which  I  once  re-, 
fided  I 

6  ->  Th.e  preceding  difcourfe 

you   have   heard,    is  entirely 

figurative — for  you  to  under- 

itand  it  literally^  would  be  the 

.  iiighefi;  abfurdity ''. 

64  But  there  are  fome  of 
you,  who  are  determined  not 
to  be  convinced — For  Jefus, 


s  His  doifirines, 

*•  In  this  feufe  the  Jews  frequently  ufed  Flefi  «nd  Spirit.  See  the  note  on 
Chap.  iii.  6. 

from 


Chap.  vii.  hy   J 

from  the  very  firft  beginning 
of  his  miniftry,  perfe6tly  knew 
thofe,  who  were  deliberately 
refolved  not  to  be  convinced 
by  all  the  evidences  he  Ihould 
exhibit  — and  he  knew  alio 
the  perfon,  by  whofe  treache- 
ry he  was  to  be  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  his  enemies. 

^t^  It  is  for  this  reafon,  he 
continued,  that  being  infal- 
libly acquainted  with  your 
difpofitions,  I  told  you  above, 
That  none  would  embrace  my 
religion,  but  thofe,  v/bo  were 
previoufly  influenced  and  at- 
trafted  by  the  love  of  God 
and  virtue. 

6^  From  this  time  many 
of  his  former  followers  de- 
ferted  him,  and  never  had 
the  leaft  lociety  and  connec- 
tion with  him  afterwards. 

6"]  Jefus  faid  to  his  twelve 
difciples  —  Will  you  alfo  a- 
bandon  me  ? 

68  Simon  Peter  replied  — 
For  whom  (hould  we  aban- 
don thee  !  —  What  other  in- 
ftrudor  is  there  who  hath  im- 
mortality to  bellow,  but  thy- 
felf! 

69  For  we  are  perfuaded 
that  thou  art  the  Mefliah, 
the  fon  of  the  ever  blefled 
God! 

70  Jefus  faid  to  them  —  I 
have  feleded  you  my  twelve 
apoftles  from  among  my  fol- 
lowers to   be    mv    conilant 


0  H  K.  307 

companions — and  yetl'know 

one  of  you  is  a  falle  accufer*'" 
71  He  meant  Judas  Ifca-* 
riot,  the  fon  of  Simon-,  who 
after wardsi,  by  an/ax5tofthe 
bafeft  perfidy,  delivered  him 
into  the  hands  of  his  .ene- 
mies. 

.  C  HAP.  V  VII. 

1  AFTER    this,  Jefus 
*^     confined    his    mini- 

ftry  within  the  limits  of  Ga- 
lilee— for  he  would  not  any 
longer  travel  in  Jud^a,  being 
conlcious  that  the  Jews  third- 
ed  for  his  blood. 

2  The  fealt  of  Tabernacles, 
a  celebrated  Jewifli  folemnity, 
was  now  very  near. 

3  Upon  this,  his  relations 
faid  to  him  —  Why  do  not 
you  leave  this  country  where 
you  have  refided  fo  long,  and 
remove  into  Judcea,  that  your 
former  converts  may  have  an 
opportunity  of  feeing  the  mi- 
raculous operations  you  per- 
form, and  be  confirmed  in 
their  belief  of  your  divine 
minion  .f" 

4  For  no  one  who  is  de- 
firous-  to  have  his  fame  cele- 
brated and  to  gain  followers, 
would  bury  himfelf  in  this  ob- 
fcurity — -Since  you  exert  fuch 
amazing  powers,  exhibit  them 
upon  the  open  theatre  of  the 
world. 

5  For  his  relations  did  not 

X  2  believe 


3o8  T/j^  Hiftory 

believe  him  to  be  a  divine 
mclTenger. 

6  Jdusfaid  tothem — The 
time  of  my  f!;oing  up  to  the 
approaching  feftivai  is  not  yet 
come  —  You,  who  have  not 
incurred  the  refentment  of 
the  Jews,  may  take  this  jour- 
ney to  the  Capital,  whenever 
you  judge  it  convenient  for 
you. 

7  You  have  not  drawn  up- 
on you  the  implacable  malice 
and  hatred  of  the  world  —  It 
is  me  the  world  purfues  with 
relentlefs  fury,  merely  be- 
caufe  I  freely  and  unreferved- 
ly  fatirize  its  vices  and  im- 
moralities. 

8  You  may  go  up  at  the ' 
ufual  time — I  will  not  as  yet 
begin  my  journey  to  cele- 
brate this  iblemnity — for  the 
period  of  my  miniftry  is  not 
completed. 

9  Jefus  accordingly  conti- 
nued in  GMQe^'t'y 

10  'till  his  relations  were 
f€t  out — After  they  were  de- 
parted, he  went  up  to  the 
city  in  a  filent  and  fecret 
manner,  without  any  crowds 
attending  him. 

.1 1  During  the  firll  days 
of  the  feftivai,  the  Jews, 
who  expeded  him,  made 
anxious  enquiries  after  him. 


of  Jesus         Chap.  vii. 

1 2  Thefe  enquiries  occafi- 
oned  a  great  dilpute  concern-^  ? 
inor  his  character  among  the*^ 
aflembled  multitudes  —  fome  * 
afierting,  that  he  was  only  ' 
an  artful  impoftor,  and  de- 
ceived an  ignorant  mob  — '^'^ 
others  contending,  that  hewas^' 
a  perfon  of  a  good  character. 

13  For  no  one  durft  pub--* 
lickly  declare  that  he  was  J 
a  prophet,  and  openly  de--^' 
fend  his  conduft,  for  fear  of  ^ 
exafperating  the  Jews.  ^ 

14  At  length,  in  the-^ 
heighth  of  the  folemnity,  Je^  ^ 
lus  appeared — and  going  di-', 
reclly  to  the  tem.ple,  inftrud:--^ 
ed  the  people. 

15  The  do6trines  he  now 
delivered,    and   the   manner* 
in  which  he  delivered  them, 
ftruck  the  Jews  with  aftonifh- 
ment — and  they  faid,  one  to^ 
another.  How  could  this  per-' 
fon  acquire  all  this  profound 
erudition     and     knowledfTe.' 
having  been  deftitute  of  a  li-^ 
beral  education  !  '' 

1 6  Jefus,  confcious  of  their 
thoughts,  turned  to  them  and 
faid — The  inftruftions  I  com- 
municate to  men  are  not  the 
refult  of  ?}iy  ozvn  wifdom,  but 
the  dictates  of  His  infallible 
underilanding,  who  fent  me 
into  the  world. 


»  For  if  Jefus  had  gone  up  at  the  u/md  time,   he  would  have  gathered  a 
toncuurfc  of  people  around  him,  and  given  umbrnge  to  the  7''-'^'-'' 

J?   And 


chap.  vii. 


by    J 


17  And  every  virtuous 
perfon,  who  is  defirous  to 
know  and  obey  the  will  of 
God,  will  clearly  difcern  whe- 
ther the  dodtrines  I  deliver 
are  of  divine  original,  or 
merely  the  offspring  of  hu- 
man contrivance. 

18  The  impofiror  ftrives 
only  to  acquire  popular  ap- 
plaufe,  and  to  fecure  to  himfelf 
a  great  name  among  the  de- 
luded multitude  —  But  he, 
who  difclaims  thefe  vain 
honours,  and  labours  folely  to 
reform  mankind  and  to  ad- 
vance the  glory  of  that  Be- 
ing, by  whom  he  was  deput- 
ed, hath  all  the  marks  of  a 
true  prophet,  being  totally 
free  from  all  fraud  and  infm- 
cerity. 

19  Did  not  Mofes  give 
you  the  law  to  be  the  rule  and 
meafure  of  your  moral  con- 
dudl,  and  hath  none  of  you  any 
regard  and  reverence  for  its 

facred  injundions  ?- 'Will 

not  thefe  deter  you  from  the 
deliberate  defigns  you  have 
formed  to  murder  me  ? 

20  The  people  anfwered — 
Surely  you  are  mad-— Whom 
do  you  think  hath  formed 
any  defign  to  murder  you  ! 

21  Jefus  faid  to  them 

Becaufe  I  happened  to  work 
»  miracle  on  the  fabbath  day, 
it  produced  an  univerfal  cla- 
mour and  amazement  at  my 
impiety : 


O   H    N.  ^09 

22  Whereas  with  regard  to 
circumcifion,  which  Mofes  ap- 
pointed—tho' this  rite  was  not 
firft  inftituted  by  him,  it  had 
been  long  before  pradtifed  by 
the  patriarchs  —  you  your- 
felves  make  not  the  leall 
fcruple  of  circumcifing  a 
male  child  on  the  fabbath. 

23  Since,  therefore,  you, 
hefitate  not  to  circumcife  on 
the  fabbath  day,  and  judge 
the  law  of  Mofes  not  to  be 
violated  by  it — can  you  con- 
fiftently  be  enraged  at  me  for 
refloring  to  perfed  health  on 
the  fabbath  day  the  whole  bo- 
dy of  a  miferable  objed:  ? 

24  Suffer  not  your  judg- 
ments to  be  warped  by  your 
preconceived  prejudices,  but 
let  them  be  impartially  guid- 
ed and  diredled  by  the  truth 
and  reafon  of  things. 

25  Here  fome  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  Jerufalem,  who 
were  preient,  faid  —  Is  not 
this  the  perfon,  whofe  blood 
they  are  lb  defirous  to  fhed  ? 

26  and  yet  with  what  open 
and  undaunted  freedom  doth 
he  deliver  his  difcourfes^ 
without  any  one  molcfting 
him — One  would  really  be 
induced  to  think,  from  the 
uncontrouled  liberty  he  en- 
joys, that  our  Sanhedrim  ve- 
rily believed  he  was  the  true 
Mcfliah. 

27  And  yet  it  is  impoffiblp 
he  (liould ■  For  we  knovv 

X  3  this 


3  TO 


^he  Hiflory  o/"  J  e  s  u  s         Chap.  vii. 


this  perfon's  parents  and  fa- 
mily— but  when  the  Mefllah 
makes  his  appearance  a 
mongft  us,  his  parentage  and 
extradtion  will  be  entirely  un- 
known'. '■»  V^^'^   . 

28  Jefus,  Gonfcious  of 
what  they  were  lecretly  dif- 
cuffing,  railed  his  voice,  as 
he  was  teaching  the  people 
in  the  temple,  and  faid — ^  Do 
you  know  me,  and  are  you 
acquainted  with  my  defcent  ? 
— yet  be  afllired  that  the  au- 
thority I  have  alTumed  is  not 
human,  but  derived  from 
that  Being,  who  hath  verifi- 
ed his  prediftions — but  with 
whofe  nature  and  perfeftions. 
you  are  utterly  unacc^uainted. 

29  But  of  thefe  I  have  the 
moft  perfect  and  intimate 
knowledge  —  for  from  hini  1 
defcended  on  earth — by  him 
I  was  deputed  to  mankind. 

30  At  this  declaration  they 
were  fo  highly  exafperated 
that  they  determined  to  ap- 
prehend him  immediately  — 
but  they  were  providential- 
ly reftrained  from  executing 
^heir  defigns,  becaufe  the 
time  of  his  fufferings  and 
death  was  not  yet  come. 

31  Great  numbers  how- 
ever of  the  common  people 


were  convinced  that  he  was  a 
true  prophet  and  faid — When 
the  great  Meffiah  himfelf  ap- 
pears, will  he  exert  more  a- 
mazing  powers  than  this  per- 
fon  hath  exerted  !      Jd  ii«>»o' 

32  The  Pharifees  heard 
the  nnimbled  multitude  freely 
and  openly  declaring,  one  tq 
another,  thefe  their  fenti- 
ments  concerning  his  charac- 
ter—  and  they  and  the  high 
priefts  difpatched  officers  im- 
mediately to  apprehend  him. 

33  In  the  mean  time  Jefus 
laid  to  the  people — I'he  time 
I  have  to  flay  among  you  is 
but  fliort— -I  fliall  foon  return 
to  that  Being,  by  whom  I 
was  originally  fent. 

34  '  You  will  make  anxi- 
ous enquiries  for  me,  but 
vour  enquiries  will  be  fruit- 
lefs — It  will  be  impoffible  for 
you  to  vifit  thofe  regions,  in 
which  I  fhall  foon  refide. 

35  Here  the  Jews  faid, 
one  to  another — To  what  un- 
known countries  does  he  in- 
tend to  travel,  where  we  fliall 

never  find  him  ? Will  he 

go  to  our  brethren  who  are 
difperfed  among  the  Hea- 
thens, and  inftruct  them. 

36  What  can  this  myfteri- 
ous  language   mean  —  You 


t  This  fhould  be  read /V^rr^^^//w/y.  \yj-J  ri  mMKJ    i  ^ 

'  During   the  troubles  oi  J-ud^a  the  Jews  fk^tdttS.  rt^  iJjpMrlticeof 
the  Meffiah  with  the  njoft  ardent  and  iblicitous  anxiety,     iiee  Jo/tphus 

p^lliin. 

fhall 


fhali  m.akc  anxious  enquiries 
after  me,  but  your  enquiries 
iliall  be  fruitleis  —  It  will  be 
impofTible  for  you  to  vifit 
Xhofe  regions,  of  which  I  fliall 
foon  be  an  inhabitant. 

§  —  37  On  the  lafb  day  of 
the  feftival,  which  was  al- 
ways obfervecl  with  the  great- 
eft  folemnity,  Jefus  flood  up, 
and  raifing  his  voice,  thus 
fpoke  to  the  v^aft  concourfe 
■of  people  now  aflembled  — 
If  any  man  thirli  after  truth 
and  virtue,  let  him  come  to 
me  and  allay  his  thirfb. 

38  He  that  believeth  on 
me,  as  the  fcripture  hath  fo- 
lemnly  commanded  my  con- 
temporaries to  do,  fiiall  be 
•enabled,  from  the  indefec- 
tible fountain  of  a  good  heart, 
to  difpenfe  the  moil  grateful 

ioand   falutary  flreams  to  re- 

f  frefh  mankind. 

^g  Jefus  in  thefe  words,  al- 

<,;iuded  to  thofe  fpiritual  gifts, 

'"with    which  the  believers  of 

the   gofpel    were   afterwards 

ixndowed — for  thefe  fpirituaJ 

^igifts  were  not  conferred  be- 

aifore  the  glorious  afcenfion  of 

-£  Jefus. 

40  Great  numbers  of  the 
-ipcople,  v/ho  heard  this  dil- 
•  courfe,  faid  —  Undoubtedly 

this  is  an  illuftrious  prophet ! 

41  Others  freely  afierted, 
that  he  mull  be  the  MefTiah 
— while  a  third  party  difdain- 


^    J  O  H  N.  311 

fi^lly  aflved.    If  the  Meffiah 
was  to ,  be ,  a.,  native ,  lif „  (^aii- 

lee  r  ;ini.:o(7nR      'Iff      ,>«.;,F£r/ 

42  For  do  not,  they  con- 
tinued, the  fcriptures  ex- 
prefsly  affert  that  the  Meffiah 
is  to  be  a  defcendant  from 
David,  and  to  receive  his 
birth  in  Bethlehem,  wherethat 
illuftrious  monarch  was  born  ? 

43  Thefe  different  fenti- 
ments,  which  were  warmly 
efpoufed,  excited  violent  de- 
bates among  the  feveral  con- 
tending parties.      )  .^in^tci  ■ 

44  During  this  fanguine 
difpute  and  confufion,  fome 
A^ere  very  defirous  to  have 
apprehended  him — but  none 
had  the  power  to  effed  his 
defigns. 

45  The  officers  therefore 
returned  to  the  high  priefls 
and  Pharifees  without  exe- 
cuting their  commiffion  - — 
Soon  as  they  appeared  with- 
out him,  they  faid  to  them 
— Why  have  you  not  obey- 
ed our  expreis  orders,  and 
brought  him  before  us  ? 

46  The  officers  replied—— 
There  never  was  any  man, 
that  difcourfed  with  that  au- 
thority and  power  as  this  per- 
fon  dotli ! 

47  The  Pharifees  faid  to 
them— r- Are  you  too  feduced 
into  the  common  delufion  ^ 

48  Can  you  name  one  of 
the  Sanhedrim,  or  ofie  of  the 

X  4      '       Pha- 


Pharifees,  who  believes  him 
invcfted  with  a  divine  coai- 
milTion?  .(^„^ 

49  But  an  unlettered  exe- 
crable, rabble  are  difpoled  to 
fwallow  any  impofture. 

50  Upon  this,  Nicodcmus 
—  the  perfon  who  liad  a 
private  interview  with  Jefus 
in  the  night,    and  who  was  a 

member  of  the  council- 

flood  up,  and  fpoke  thus, 

5 1  Doth  our  law  authorize 
us  to  condemn  any  perfon 
to  capital  punifliment,  be- 
fore the  judges  have  heard 
\Khat  he  hath  to  alledge  in 
defence  of  himfelf,  and  have 
ftriftly  enquired  into  his  prin- 
ciples and  adtions? 

52  Greatly  incenfed  at  this 
fpeech  they  faid  —  Art  thou 
too  a  canvert  of  this  Gali- 
lecan  prophet  ?  —  Search  the 
annals  of  time,  and  lee, if  this 
defpicable  country  had  ever 
the  honour  of  giving  birth  to 
a  prophet". 

g^  After  this,  the  council 
broke  up  and  the  members 
feparated  to  their  refpedive 
homes, 


T'he  Kif^pry  c/  Jesus  Chap.  viii. 


CHAP.viii.  I  but  Jefus  prir 
vately  retired  to  the  mount 
of  Olives. 

§  — 2  The  next  morning 
early  he  returned  to  the  city 
— and  going  into  the  temple, 
a  prodigious  concourle  of  peo- 
ple flocked  to  him,  to  hear 
his  inftrudions. 

3  But  while  he  was  em- 
ployed in  teaching  the  peo- 
ple, the  Scribes  and  Pharir 
fees  brought  before  him  a 
woman  convifted  of  adultery 

and  placing  her  in  the 

midfl  of  the  circle, 

4  thus  addreffed  him  — *• 
Illullrious  teacher !  this  wo- 
man was  caught  in  an  adul- 
terous commerce,  and  de- 
tected in  the  very  fact  °. 

5  Now  Mofes  hath  ex- 
prefsly  enjoined  that  women 
guilty  of  this  atrocious 
crime  fhould  be  ftoned  to 
death  —  but  what  penalty  do 
you  think  ought  to  be  in- 
flided  ? 

6  They  applied  to  him  for 
his  decifionin  this  cafe, merely 
with  an  inlidious  defign,  that 


"  The  prophet  Janah.,  however,  was  born  in  Galilee.  2  Kings,  xiv. 
25.      See  alfo  Urdverfal  HiJIory,  Vol.  x.    p.  572-,    8vo. 

"  ETr'yTo^ip'/n  This  word  tho'  condemned  in  St.  "John,  is  ufed  by 
very  refpe£lable  writers.  Kt'  avTota^tu  rrt.pd.S'aTu  v-v  /xar/ov.  He* 
Itadori  yJZthiop.  p.  21.  Edit.  Commelin.  ET</"T')'5a)S'<>  N'/x/4i'  nhiitl- 
fjizvov  Eupolis  apud  Plutarch.  Nicias,  p.  960,  Edit.  8vo.  Steph.  As- 
Ciiv  57r'  avToo^o^cD  ■X-uJf^iunoi',  id.  Eiimenes,  p.  106:;.  f"Ta.u7cjii'pii> 
70V  i^soj*  «/AMjjoT«f,  id.  Alex.  p.  1244.    Steph.  Edit.  Gr.  Svo. 


they 


Chap.  vlii. 

they  might  have  fomething 
criminal  to  charge  him  with 
•- —  But  Jefus,  confcious  of 
(their  intention,  {looped  down, 
;and  with  an  apparent  difre- 
gard  of  the  queflion  they 
-propofed,  wrote  with  his  fin- 
ger on  the  floor. 
-  7  But  when  they  conti- 
nued to  urge  him  with  re- 
peated importunity,  at  laft  he 
raifed  himfelf  up,  and  faid  to 

them Let  that  perfon  a- 

mong  you  who  is  free  from 
^  this  vice,  throw  the  firft 
itone  at  her. 

8  Having  faid  this  he 
ftooped  down  again,  and, 
with  the  fame  inattention  as 
before,  traced  letters  with 
his  finger  on  the  floor. 

9  He  had  no  fooiier  pro- 
nounced thefe  words,  but  the 
perfons,  who  had  condudled 
the  woman  before  him,  were 
(lung  with  fliame  and  with 


^J'    J  O  H  N.  313 

the  acuteft  cornpundions  of 
confcience,  and  hegaii  to  ileal 
away,  one  by  one,  tlje  eldeft 
withdrawing  firfb-  '  "*tiil  at 
laft  they  had  all  quitted  the 
woman  and  left  her  alone  in 
the  midft  of  the  audience. 

10  Jefus  then  raifing  him- 
felf up  and  perceiving  they 
had  all  deferted  the  woman, 
faid  to  her  — -  Where  are,  thp 
perfons  who  accufed  you  .^  — 
Hath  any  one  condemned 
you  to  fufl^er  capital  punifli- 
ment  ?  .' '    ■'\    [ 

I  r  She  anfwered  in  the  ne- 
gative—  Neither  do  I,  repli- 
ed Jefus,  condemn  you  to 
die  ■ —  Go,  and  I  charge  you 
for  the  future  never  to  repeat 
this  enormous  crime. 

§ — 12  After  this  inci- 
dent Jefus  refumed  his  public 
difcourfes  to  the  aflfembled 
multitude,  and  faid  — •  I  am 
the  '^  light,    that  difoejs  th^ 


P  This  paflage  holds  up  to  us  a  faithful  but  moft  rtiocking  pii^iiire  oF 
the  horrid  corruption  and  debauchery  of  the  Je^vs  at  tliat  time  !  Tlieir 
Rahbies  permitted  them,  fays  Jujlin  Martyr  even  in  his  time  to  have/w^r 
or  fi've  wives  :  Oix/ief  kcli  y-iyji  \'--'v  K.:ft  ri<^aa-f>a.i  Kcct  ■tsv-t'::  iyzi'v 
VfJ-et?  yjvaiy.ctf  cKAToy  ffuyy^op^ai.  Dial.  Par.  2.  p.  363:  but  their  aba- 
Jninable  lufl:  was  boundlefs  and  infatiable.  Well  might  Jofiphus  fav  of 
this  'very  generation,  That  there  never  was  any  age  from  the  foundatiou 
of  the  world  fo  profligate  and  abandoaed. '  Wiiri  yy\v'(ii\'"i^  uhn'C^ 
yiyoviva.1  yctx-i.ti  yo't  if/cojcoAt .  Jopph.^.  ].  Lib.  v.  'c.  x.-^  v.  Edrt'" 
Hud/on  :  and. again  he  fays — The  whole  jewifh  community,  both  in  public 
and  private,  was  univerfally  corrupt,  as  if  their  contention  had?!)een,  Wlic>' 
could  commit  the  greatell:  impieties  again;!  God,  Who -could 'perpetrate 
the  moll  atrocious  crimes  againft  one  another.  Ojtm  tiid'^r^-'^t  kiiv^ 
'^a.vji.f  'i'o/Tti<jcti\    B.  J.  Lib.  vii.  c.  viii.    §  i.  '--c-.-;j.     -r-    v-^ 

s  Probably  the  fun  was  now  rifm^;,  and  diffufing  its  fjiys'^upori  thdf 
temple  and  people ;  as  he  had  come  to  the  temple  very  early  in  the 
mcrxiing. 


darknefs 


5H 

darknels  of  the  world — ^He, 
whole  fteps  are  conduced  by 
its  beams,  fhall  never  be  be- 
wildered in  the  gloom  of  dark- 
nefs — for  his  path  lliall  ever 
be  ilhiminatcd  by  the  moit 
permanent  and  faliuary  light. 

13  Here  feme  of  the  in- 
credulous Pharifees  interrupt- 
ed him  and  laid — You  cele- 
brate your  own  praifes— i'uch 
ielf-applaufe  leads  us  jullly  to 
fufpett  him  who  fo  liberally 
beftows  it  upon  himlelf. 

14  Jefus-laid  to  them- 
Tho*  I  freely  publifh  mine 
exalted  original  and  dignity, 
yet  mine  own  teftimony  of  it 
may  be  confided  in — for  I  am 
confcious  whence  I  came, 
and  know  whither  I  fhall 
return  ■  but  you  neither 
know  my  former  original,  nor 
my  future  dignity. 

15  You  condemn  perfons 
merely  for  the  meanncfs  of 
their  appearance — I  condemn 
no  one. 

16  Tho'  fhould  I  pafs  fen- 
tence  on  men,  the  fen  ten  ce 
I  fhould  pronounce  would 
be  perfecftly  conformable  to 
equity  and  truth — for  lam  not 
a  Ible  unconnedled  individual, 
but  I  am  fupported  and  au- 


T^he  Hiftory  0/' Jesus        Chap. vilf. 


thorized  by  that  gre'at  Being, 
whofe  meftenger  I  am. 

17  It  is  decreed  in  ymir 
law.  That  the  concurring  tef- 
timony  of  two  perfons  (hall 
be  efteemed  valid. 

18  Agreeable  to  this  /  at- 
teft  mine  original  and  my  mif- 
fion,  and  my /<«/^(?r  ratifies  and 
ftamps  my  teftimony  with  his 
fandlion '. 

19  They  faid  to  him  — 
Who  is  your  father? — -Jcfvis 
replied  ■  You  are  perfeft 
ftrangers  both  to  me  and  my 
father —  Were  you  acquaint- 
ed with  my  m.iffion  and  cha- 
rafter,  you  would  know  who 
is  my  father. 

20  Jefus  delivered  the  pre- 
ceding dilcourie  in  the  trea- 
fury — But  no  one  attempted 
to  apprehend  him,  for  the 
time  of  his  fuffering-s  was  not 
yet  come. 

Q I  Jefus  refuming  his  dif^ 
courfe  faid  to  them — I  fl-sall 
foon  leave  you,  and  you  will 
make  many  folicitous  enqui- 
ries after  me,  but  in  vain-— 
for  you  fhall  be  devoted  to 
'  deftruftion  on  account  of 
your  vices '  —  Into  the  place 
whither  1  am  going,  you  will 
never  be  admitted.  ^'^ 

22  The 


''  Miracles. 

^  Referring  to  the  deflrudllon  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Romans. 

»  How  univerfally  depraved  the  jewifli  people  j/otu  u  crc,  appears  from 
the  following  celebratfd  pafTagc  jn  Jo/cpbus.  Ovk  etv  u-Toc^/Actc^/wi^ 
iimiv.  K.7-  A.  1  cannot  forbear  declaring  my  fentiments,  tho'  it  fills 
me  Tsita  great  regret  to  dtclire  them,  That  had  the  Rcmr.rs  delayed 

their 


Chap.  viil.  hy   J 

22  The  Jews  upon  this 
faid — Doth  he  mean  that  he 
intends  to  be  guilty  of  fui- 
cide,  in  faying,  That  from 
the  place  v^here  he  is  going, 
we  fhall  be  excluded  ?  /: 
>;  '?3  Jefus  replied — Your  o- 
riginal  is  low  and  fordid, 
mine  is  illuftrious  and  divine 
——You  are  of  a  terreftrial,  I 
am  of  celeftial,  extra<5tion. 

24  I  have  plainly  and 
faithfully  told  you  that  your 
vices  will  certainly  doom  you 
to  deftru€lion — and  be  affur- 
ed,  if  you  are  determined  to 
rejeft  my  pretenlions,  and 
are  obftinately  refolved  not 
to  receive  me  as  a  divine  mef- 
fenger,  your  atrocious  impe- 
nitence and  guilt  will  devote 
you  to  the  moll  dreadful 
ruin.  ': 

25  They  faid  to  him  «— — 
Whom  do  you  then  affert 
yourfelf  to  be  ?  —  I  have  re- 
peatedly told  you,  faid  Jefus, 
from  the  beginning  of  my 
public  miniflry  who  I  am/^- 

.26. 1  have  great  caufe  to 
condemn  you  for  your  wilful 
and  determined  ignorance — 
AfTure  yourfelves  that  he  who 
fent  me  will  not  give  his  fanc- 
tion  to  an  impollor 1  on- 


o  H  N.  .315 

ly  communicate  to  the  world 
the  do(5lrines  and  inftruftions 
I  originally  received  from 
him.  .->  mrviil^  srhnib^TjMtvf 

27  But  fuch  was  their 
(lupidity  that  they  knew  not 
that  he  was  fpeaking  of  the 
Supreme  Being. 

28  Jefus  farther  added — Af- 
ter you  have "  elevated  the  fon 
of  man,  you  will  then  have 
the  moll  fignal  proofs  of  my 
miffion,  and  character  —  It 
will  then  be  demonilrated  to 
you  that  I  aft  not  by  mine 
own  authority,  but  was  com- 
mifTioned  and  delegated  by 
the  Deity  to  publifh  the  doc- 
trines I  now  deliver, 

29  For  he,  who  deputed 
me  on  this  important  meffage, 
IS  continually  aiding  and  fup- 
porting  me  —  and  the  con- 
icioufnefs  that  I  adl  agreeably 
to  his  will  afflires  me  that  he 
will  never  defert  me.      , 

30  This  difcourfe. convin- 
ced great  numbers  that  he 
was  the  MeHiah. 

31  To  thofe  Jews  there- 
fore who  were  convinced  of 
his  divine  m.ifilon  Jefus  thuii 
addrelfed  himfelf — I  will  ac- 
knowledge you  for  my  true 
and  genuine  difciples,  if. you 


their  hoftilities  againft  thefe  abandoned  wretches,  the  whole  city  would 
cither  have  been  ingulfed  by  an  earthquake,  overwhelmed  by  a  deluge, 
or  have  been  confumed  with  a  fiery  florm  from  heaven,  as  Sodmn  was. 
For  its  inhabitants  were  more  profligate  and  wicked  than  any  who  ever 
experienced  fuch  calamities.  B.  Jud.  Lib.  v.  c.  xiii.  §  vi.  Edit.  Hudfon. 
"  Meaning  his  cruciiixion. 


.:5i 


contmue 


-  3 


i6 


continue  in  the  (leady  and 
uniform  obedience  of  mine 
inftrucSlions. 

32  If  you  thus  faithfully 
adhere  to  my  caufe,  you  will 
be  acquainted  with  the  fu- 
preme  excellency  and  worth 
of  true  Religion,  and  you 
will  be  vindicated  into  per- 
fcd  freedom  and  liberty. 

33  They  faid  to  him  — 
"We  are  the  defcendents  of 
Abraham  —  we  never  were 
flaves  and  vafials  to  any  one 
— What  induces  you  then  to 
fay,  That  we  fhall  be  vindi- 
cated. ipktQ  freedom  and  li- 
htvty  l-y.i  li. 

34  Jefus  replied — He,  that 
is  a  Have  to  his  vices,  is  the 
greateft  and  viieil  of  all  (laves. 

35  The  flave  holds  his 
continuance  in  a  family  upon 
a'vcry  precarious  and  uncer- 
tain tenure  ^  —  but  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  Ion  is  for 
ever  unchangeable  and  per- 
manent. 

36  If  the  fon,  therefore, 
vindicate  you  into  liberty, 
you  will  pofTefs  the  mod  ex- 
cellent and  perfect  liberty. 

37  1  know  you  are  Abra- 
ham's defcendents — Yet,  tho' 
you  are  the  race  of  this  pious 
and  holy  patriarch,  you  form 

defigns   to  murder  me 

merely  becaufe  mine  inftruc- 


Th  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  viii. 

tions  fuit  not  your  depraved- 
and  prejudiced  minds! 

38  I  faithfully  deliver  what 
I   received  from   my  Father 

you  praetife   what^i,ypi|i 

learned  from  yours.        ^■jn-.n 

39  They  faid — Abraham 
is  our  fole  progenitor — Were 
yon,  replied  Jefus,  his  true 
and  genuine  progeny,  you 
would  inherit  his  illuftrious 


virtues. 

40  But  now  you  concert 
meafures  to  Ihed  my  blood 
—  to  fhed  the  blood  of  one 
who  delivers  to  you  that  plain 
and  undiiguifed  truth,  which 
God  communicated  to  him 
— Did  Abraham's  bofom  ever 
harbour  fuch  principles  as 
thefe ! 

41  You  indeed  inherit  ^(?z^r 
father's  principles — They  re- 
plied —  Our  birth  is  not  dif- 
honourable  and  bafe  ""  — We 
only  own  one  great  original 
— and  that  original  is  Godrf->i 

42  Jefus  faid  to  them  — » 
Were  you  the  genuine  chil- 
dren of  God,  I  fhould  be  the 
objedl  of  your  love — for  from 
him  I  folely  derive  my  au- 
thority, and  it  was  in  com- 
pliance with  his  will  that  I 
defcended  on  earth. 

43  What  is  the  rcafon  you 
do  not  underitand    the  lan- 

fruacre  I  ule  ?  — Is  it  becaufe 

00 


w  His  mader's  will. 

^  This  was  a  UityricrJ  fiiiig  at  bis  birtl'. 


you 


chap.  vili.  by  J 

you  are  averfe  to  the  dodrines 
I  inculcate  ? 

44  Your  fanguinary  pur- 
pofes,  your  blood-thirfty, 
murderous  intentions,  rather 
prove  you  to  be  the  children 
of  the  deviP  —  he  was  ever  a 
murderer,  was  ever  inftigated 
by  the  mod  wicked  and  de- 
teftable  principles,  and  was 
ever  the  patron  and  author  of 
falfehood  and  lies. 
J  I3-.45  Deriving,  therefore, 
liTch  principles  from  fuch  an 
impure  fountain,  no  wonder 
you  fhould  contraft  fuch  an 
averfion  to  me  for  propagat- 
ing the  caufe  of  truth  and 
virtue. 

46  Can  any  of  you  con- 
vidt  me  of  any  vice  ?  — Since 
then  my  life  is  conformable 
to  my  dodlrines,  why  do  you 
refufe  your  alTentto  the  truths 
Ipubhih? 

47  He  that  hath  a  con- 
fcientious  and  fincere  regard 
for  religion,  chearfully  obeys 
the  will  of  God  when  made 
known  to  him  —  and  your 
wilful  rejediion  of  me  and  my 
do6lrines  fiows  from  your  dil- 
regard  and  total  indifference 
for  religion. 

48  With  this  declaration 
they  were  greatly  exafperat- 
ed,  and  faid  to  him  —  Have 
we  not  abundant   reafon  to 


0  H  n:  317 

fay,  That  you  are  a  Sama- 
ritan, and  a  mad  enthufiaft  ! 

49  Jefus  anfwcred  —  I  am 
not  diftradled  with  madnefs — • 

1  faithfully  difcharge  the  ccm- 
miffion  of  him  who  fent  me — • 
but  you  treat  his  meffenger 
with  the  laft  indignity  and 
contempt. 

50  It  is  not  popular  ap- 
plaufe  and  honour  I  court  — 
There  is  one  who  will  vindi- 
cate his  honour,  and  punifti 
thofe  who  violate  it, 

51  Suffer  me  in  the  moft 
folem.n  manner  to  affure  you» 
That  he  who  fteadily  obeys 
my  precepts  ffiall  never  be 
fubjedled  to  death.     ■'L4^c. 

52  Upon  hearing  this  af- 
fertion  they  cried  out  —  We 
have  now  afufficient  proof  that 
your  intellefts  are  moft  cer- 
tainly difordered — Our  great 
progenitor  Abraham  and  all 
the  holy  prophets  have  long 
fmce  paid  the  debt  to  nature 
—  and  you  have  the  madnefs. 
to  affert,  Hiat  he  who  obeys 
your  doctrines  Ihall  live  for 
ever  ! 

53  Have  you  the  arro- 
gance to  claim  to  yourfelf  a 
dignity  fuperiour  to  Abra- 
ham, and  to  all  the  illuftrious 
prophets,  none  of  whom  were 
ever  privileged  from  death  ? 
What    great    and   dignified 


y    By  A/<fCoA©-  the  Jews   meant  Moloch^   or  Saturn,  to  whom   their 
ncii^hbouring  naticnj  iacriliced  hum^in  vi^ims. 

perfonage 


3i3 


perfonage  do  you  make  your- 
I'elf? 

54  Jefus  anfwered  —  It  is 
of  no  avail  for  me  to  cele- 
brate mine  own  dignity  —  it 
IS  abundantly  attefted  and 
glorioufly  confirmed  by  my 
Father  —  that  Being,  whom 
you  Jews  profeis  to  acknow- 
ledge and  adore  as  your  God. 
^^  To  this  Being,  how- 
ever, you  are  ftrangers — but 
I  am  perfeftiy  acquainted  with 
his  perfections  and  counlels 
—  fhould  I  declare  my  total 
ignorance  of  this  Being,  I 
ihould  be  like  you  —  a  noto- 
rious violator  of  the  moft  fa- 
cred  truth  —  But  the  Deity  I 
know,  and  with  his  defio-n  I 
comply. 

56  Abraham,  your  great 
anceftor,  was  tranfported  with 
the  moft  vehement  and  facred 

})affion  to  fee  my  day- -He 

was  indulged  with  a  fight  of 
it  —  and  the  fight  filled  him 
with  the  moft  rapturous  ex- 
ultation. 

c;.y  The  Jews  laid  to  him. 
— You  are  not  yet  fifty,  and 
have  you  fcen  Abraham  ^ 

.58  Jefus  replied — In  the 
moft  Iblemn  manner  I  allure 
you  that  I  exiftcd  before  A- 
braham  drew  the  breath  of 
life. 

59  This  declaration  incenf- 
9d  the  Jews  beyond  all  bounds 
— tliey  took  up  ftones,  defign- 


T/je  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap,  ix- 

ing  in  their  rage  to  rurti  upon 
him,  and  murder  him  in* 
ftantly  —  but  he  rendered 
himfelf  invifible,  and  palTmg 
through  the  crowd  eluded 
their  fury. 


CHAP.   IX. 

I  AFTER  this,  as  Jefus 
*^  was  pafTing  along  the 
road,  there  happened  to  be  a 
man  begging  who  was  born 
blind. 

2  The    difciples,    feeing 
this  unhappy  objedt,  faid  to 

Jefus Divine  inftruftor  1 

pleafe  to  inform  us,  Whether 
it  was  the  fins  of  this  man  in 
his  prasexiftent-ftate,  or  the 
fins  of  his  parents,  that  cauP 
ed  God  to  inflift  upon  him 
this  punifliment  ? 

3  To  this  enquiry  Jefus 
replied — neither  his  vices  in 
a  pra^exiftent-ftate,  nor  the 
vices  of  his  parents,  were  the 
caules  of  this  calamity — but 
the  v.ifdom  of  God  hath 
thought  fit  he  Ihould  fufi'er  a 
temporary  deprivation  of 
fight,  in  order  that  his  power 
in  mirsculoufiy  reftoring  it 
might  be  publickly  difplayed. 

4  It  is  incumbent  upon  me 
to  employ  every  hour  of  the 
fugitive  day  in  diligently 
dijcharging  my  duty  to  him 
who  lent  me  into  the  world 
— for  the  night  is  approach- 


Chap. 


IX. 


ft  u 


^/    J  O  H/tj." 


jng,  that  will  put  a  final  period 
to   my    labours  and   public 


ufefulnefs. 
5 


During, 


therefore,  my 
continuance  in  the  world,  I 
will  dilpenre  light  and  joy  a- 
round  me. 

6  Having  faid  this,  he 
fpit  on  the  ground,  and  hav- 
ing made  clay  with  the  fpit- 
tle,  he  anointed  the  eyes  of 
the  blind  man  with  it. 

7  He  then  faid  to  him  -— 
Go  immediately  and  waih  in 
the  pool  ofSiioam,  which  tranf- 
lated  fignifies  Senl — He  went, 
wailied,  and  returned,  per- 
fedly  reflored  to  the  uie  of 
his  eyes. 

8  The  neighbours,  and 
thofe  who  had  Teen  him  be- 
fore, when  he  was  dark,  were 
ailonifhed,  and  faid  one  to 
another — Is  not  this  the  man 
that  ufed  to  fit  o-n  the  fide  of 
the  road,  and  beg  ? 

9  Others  faid — it  cannot 
be  him  —  a  third  declared, 
That  he  was  extremely  like 
him— The  blind  man  affirm- 
ed tliat  he  was  the  perfon. 

ID  They  a(l-:ed  him,  by 
what  means  he  was  reftored 
to  the  ufc  of  his  nght ! 

1 1  He  anfwered  —  A  per- 
fon, whole  natne  is  Jefus, 
made  clay,  and  befmeared 
mine  eyes  with  ir,  then  bad 
me  go  to  the  pool  of  Siloam 
and  wa(h  mylcit — Accord- 


3«9 

wafhed,   and 


ingly  I  went, 

law.  :; 

12  They  afked  him,  If  he 
knew  where  the  perlbn  was, 
who  had  performed  this  cure? 
—He  faid,  lie  did  not. 

13  They  brought  the  man 
before  the  Phariices. 

14  It  happened  to  be  the 
fabbath  day,  when  Jefus 
made  the  clay,  and  miracfu- 
loufly  reftored  this  perfon  a> 
his  fio;ht. 

15  The  Pharifees  examin- 
ed him,  and  interrogated  him 
concerning  his  cure— -He 
told  them,  how  Jefus  had 
put  clay  upon  his  eyes,  had 
fent  him  to  waih  them,  and 
that  he  inftantly  received  his 
fight. 

1 6  Upon  this,  fome  of  the 
Pharifees  faid  -^—  This  perfon 
mull  undoubtedly  be  an  im- 
poftor,  or  he  would  not  vio- 
late the  facred  duties  of  the 
fabbath  in  the  profane  man- 
ner he  does  —  Others  repli- 
ed — But  it  is  impolfible  a  de- 
ceiver fhould  be  able  to  per- 
form fuch  amazing  operati- 
ons as  thefe  are — Ihis  varie- 
ty of  fentiments  produced  a 
great  altercation  and  violent 
debates  amongft  them. 

17  At  laft  they  aiked  the 
blind  man.  What  lis  opinion 
was  of  the  author  of  his  cure  ? 
—  Undoubtedly  he  muft  be 
a  prophet,  he  faid.        .  >, 

18  The 


:2o 


ne  Hiftary  ^  J  e  s  u  $  Chap.  ix. 


1 8  The  Jews  would  not 
believe  that  he  ever  had  been 
blind,  and  received  the  ufe 
of  his  fight  by  a  miracle  — 
'till  they  lent  for  the  man's 
parents. 

i9Hisparentsbeingbrought 
betoij  the  council,  they  aik- 
ed  them.  If  that  perfon  was 
their  fon  —  if  he  was  born 
blind -^  and  in  what  manner 
Jie  had  received  his  fio-ht. 

20  To  thefe  enquiries  his 
parents  replied — that  he  was 
undoubtedly  their  fon,  and 
declared  that  he  was  born 
Hone  blind : 

21  But,  added  they,  we 
can  give  you  no  information, 
in  what  manner  he  hath  ob- 
tained the  ufe  of  his  eyes,  or 
what  perfon  it  was  that  ef- 
fefted  this  cure  —  Propofe 
■what  queftions  you  pleafe  to 
him — he  is  of  age  to  anlwer 
you,  and  to  give  a  fatisfac- 
tory  account  of  himfelf. 

22  This  cautious  prudence 
in  the  man's  parents  proceed- 
ed from  their  fear  of  exciting 
the  Jev/s  refentment — For  by 
an  a<St  of  the  court  it  was  re- 
folved,  That  every  perfon, 
who  fhould  declare  that  Jefus 
was  the  Mefliah,  fliould  be 
excommunicated. 

23  His  parents' knowledge 
of  this  public  relolution  dic- 
tated this  condudl,  and 
prompted  them  to  tell  the 
court,  That  tlieir  fon  was  of 

5 


age,  and  was  able  to  make 
latisfa6lory  anfwers  to  their 
enquiries. 

24  After  this,  they  called 
up  the  man  a  fecond  time  and 
laid  to  him — Pay  thy  fervent 
gratitude  to  God  for  the  great 
blefiinghe  hath  bellowed  up- 
on thee — for  as  to  the  perfon 
to  whom  thou  afcribeft  it,  we 
know  him  to  be  an  impoftor. 

25  The  man  replied,  Whe- 
ther he  is  an  impoftor  or  no, 
it  is  not  for  me  to  decide  — -' 
one  thing  I  am  not  deceived 
in,  That  I  who  was  blind  all 
my  life-time  now  fee  every 
thing  perfeftly, 

26  They  faid  to  him  again 
—  What  did  he  do  to  thee  ? 
What  means  did  he  ufe  to 
open  thine  eyes  ? 

27  He  replied  —  I  have 
given  a  diftindl  and  true  ac- 
count of  every  circumflance, 
and  you  feem  not  difpofed  to 
admit  it — What  induces  you 
to  repeat  your  queftion  ?  —  Is 
it  that  you  are  defirous  to  be- 
come his  converts  and  fol- 
lowers ? 

28  This  greatly  exafperat- 
ed  them,  and  they  faid  —  He 
hath  indeed  made  a  convert 
of  thee — but  we  acknowledge 
no  divine  inftrudtor  but  Mo- 
fcs. 

29  We  are  perfuaded  upon 
the  bed  evidence  that  our  il- 
luilrious  lawgiver  v/as  veiled 
with  a  divine  commifiion  — 

but 


Chap.  ix. 


(^    J  o 


but  we  know  not  what  au- 
thority this  obicare  peribn 
hath. 

30  The  man  anfvvcred  — 
It  IS  ailoniiliing  to  me  that 
you  fhouid  not  acknowledge 
the  divine  miffion  of  a  peribn, 
who  hath  wrought  fo  amaz- 
ing a  miracle  upon  me  ! 

31  It  is  certain  that  God 
will  not  give  his  affiftance  and 
fanftion  to  an  impoftor 


The  pious  and  devout  wor- 
fliipper  only  enjoys  his  dif- 
tinguifhed  favours^. 

3  2  There  cannot  be  a  Tingle 
inftance  produced,  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  of  a 
bad  man  being  able  to  reftore 
one  who  was  born  blind  to 
the  ule  of  his  eyes. 

33  If  this  perfon  was  not 
a  divine  meflenger,  he  could 
never  work  a  miracle. 

34  This  highly  incenfed 
them,  and  they  faid  —  Thou 
art  a  vile  abandoned  finner, 
and  doft  thou  prefume  to  in- 
ilrud;  us  ?  —  They  then  or- 
dered him  to  be  excommuni- 
cated. 

35  Jefus  heard  of  the  fen- 
rence  they  had  paiTed  upon 
hiim,  and  finding  him  fome 
time  afterwards  in  the  tem- 
ple, faid  to  him — Doft  thou 
believe  on  the  Mefilah,  the 
Ion  of  God  ? 

3  6  He  an  fwered  —  I nform 


H  N.  321 

me.  Sir!  who  is  the  Mefiiah, 
that  I  may  acknowledge  and 
embrace  him  ^ 

^y  Jefus  faid  to  him  — 
He,  whom  you  Iiave  formerly 
feen,  and  with  whom  you  are 
now  converfing,  is  the  per- 
fon. 

38  Upon  hearing  this,  the 
man  cried  out 1  acknow- 
ledge your  divine   authority 
—  and  he  prollrated  himfclf' 
at  his  feet. 

39  Jefus  then  faid  —  My 
coming  into  the  world  is  'the 
great  teft  to  try  and  difcri- 
minate  mankind  —  My  doc- 
trines will  infufe  the  pureft 
and  divineft  light  into  the 
minds  of  the  unenlightened 

but  envelop   the  minds 


of  thofe  who  value  themfelves 
upon  their  fuperior  light,  ia 
gloom  and  darknefs, 

40  The  Pharifees,  v^ho  ftood 
by  and  heard  thefe  words,  faid 
—  Do  you  judge  our  minds 
to  be  covered  with  this  thick 
and  impenetrable  darknefs  ? 

41  Jefus  fold  —  Were  you 
deprived  of  light  and  all  op- 
portunities of  knowing  your 
duty,  you  would  be  innocent 
— but  boaftmg  your  fupcTior 
light,  and  yet  not  dilcerning 
the  proofs  of  my  miiiion, 
renders  your  guilt  to  t!ie  salt 
degree  aggravated  an.i'inex- 
cu  fable. 


"  0<r)c?  0to/f  iTrsTra^iiTAi  iui/.\ci  J'  iy.kvov  au :  .     II.  A.  21 3. 


Vol.  I. 


CHAP. 


;32 


The  Hiftory 


CHAP.    X. 


AFTER    this 
addrcffcd 


Jejus 
to  ihem 
the  following  difcourfe  —  I 
afTure  you  in  the  moil  fo- 
kmn  manner,  That  he  who 
doth  not  regularly  enter 
through  the  door  into  tlie 
ftieep-fold,  but  climbs  over 
the  fence  in  an  indireft  and 
clandeftine  manner,  fhews 
that  he  hath  an  evil  and  wick- 
ed defign  againfl  the  flock. 

2  For  the  true  fhepherd, 
in  the  face  of  day,  direftly 
enters  through  the  door  into 
the  inclofure. 

3  For  him  the  door-keeper 
unlocks  the  gate  —  and  the 
fheep,  pleafed  with  h:s  well 
known  voice,  flock  around 
him — Thefe  he  carefles  with 
affcdionate  tendernels,  fond- 
ly calls  them  by  their  relpec- 
tive  "  names,  and  leads  them 
to  verdant  paftures. 

4  And  while  he  is  conduct- 
ing them  to  rich  and  fertile 
fields,  they  chearfuUy  follow 
him,  obedient  to  his  call,  and 
delighted  with  his  accuftom- 
ed  voice. 

5  But  the  guidance  of  a 
flranger  they  refufe,  and  a- 
bandon  him  by  the  mofl: 
precipitate  flight — for  they  are 


of  Jesus  Chap.  x. 

frighted   and  alarmed  at  his 
unknown  voice. 

6  The  above  figurative 
difcourfe  Jefus  delivered  to 
them,  but  they  did  not  com- 
prehend its  moral  and  defign. 

7  Jefus  then  refumed  the 
fubjecl  and  fiid —  Be  afllired 
that  I  am  the  door  of  God's 
fheepfold. 

8  All  my  immediate  pre- 
decefibrs,  who  luperintended 
the  flock,  were  perfons  of  the 
moft  immoral  characters,  and 
the  flieep  refufed  their  direc- 
tion. 

9  I  am  the  door  of  God's 
fheepfold — He,  who  through 
me  gains  admifTion  into  the 
inclofure  fliall  for  ever  enjoy 
undifiiurbed  tranquillity  and 
iafety,  and  range  at  pleafure 
over  the  mofl:  extenfive  and 
delegable  pafl:ures. 

10  The  thief  fkulks  about 
the  fold  folcly  with  a  defign 
to  pillage,  butcher,  and  de- 
llroy  the  flock  —  I  came  to 
confult  their  fafety  and  weK 
fare,  and  for  ever  to  fave  them 
from  perdition. 

11  I  am  the  good  fliep- 
herd — A  good  fhepherd  hefi- 
tates  not  to  expofe  his  life  to 
the  mofl:  imminent  dangers 
to  refcue  and  fave  his  flocks. 

1 2  But  a  mercenary,    one 


»  In  allufion  to  the  cuftom  of  the  Jewifli  flirpherdi  ^^ho  had  names  for 
their  Iheep. 

A  who 


Chap.'  X.  fy   ]  o 

who  is  not  the  proprietor  of 
the  flock,  and  who  interefts 
nochimielf  in  its  prefervation, 
as  loon  as  he  fees  the  wolf 
rufli  upon  the  fheep  and 
fpread  deilruclion  around 
him,  flies  with  the  mod  pre- 
cipitate hafte  from  them,  and 
leaves  them  fcattered  and  de- 


fencelefs,     to    his   infatiable 
fury, 

13  In  this  dreadful  fitua- 
tion  the  mercenary  deferts 
the  fheep  —  becaufe  he  hath 
no  concern  for  the  fafety  of 
the  flock  —  his  only  concern 
is  for  the  wag;es  he  receiveth. 

14  I  am  the  good  fhepherd 

1  know  every  individual 

of  my  flock,    and  my  flock 
knows  me, 

15  jufl:  as  the  Father  inti- 
mately knows  me,  and  as  I 
know  the  Father — And  fuch 
is  the  ardent  affection  I  bear 
my  fheep,  that  I  chearfully 
fhed  my  blood  to  fave  them 
from  deftruction. 

t6  And  think  not  this 
fold  contains  all  my  fheep — ■ 
I  have  other  flocks,  which 
will  obey  my  call,  and  v/hich 
I  will  colledt,  and  incorporate 
with  this — So  that  there  fliali 
be  one  common  fold,  and  one 
common  fhepherd, 

17  It  is  for  this  that  the 
Deity  condefcends  to  make 
me  the  objcd-  of  his  diftin- 
guiflied  afFc(5tion  and  love  — 


HN.  323 

becaufe  I  voluntarily  furren- 
der  up  my  life  for  mankind, 
which  I  know  I  fhall  refume 
with  infinite  advantage. 

18  It  is  not  fuperior  force 
that  wrefts  it  from  me  by 
compulfion — the  facrifice  is 
free  and  voluntary  —  I  have 
power  to  devote  myfelf  to 
death  —  I  have  power  to  re- 
cover myfelf  to  life-  "  ■Th'i's 
power  hath  been  freely  given 
me  by  the  Deity. 

19  This  dilcourfe  produced 
great  and  violent  debates  a- 
mong  the  Jews. 

20  For  lome  faid  —  Cer- 
tainly the  man  is  diflraCted  ! 
How  can  you  attend  to  the 
wild  extravao^anciesof  a  mad- 
man  !  ^* 

2  I  Others  faid — fuch  doc- 
trines and  difcourfes  as  thefe 
are  not  the  effuflons  of  difor- 

dered  intellefts Can  dif- 

ordered  intellefts  enable  a 
man  to  refl:ore  fight  to  the 
blind ! 

§ — 22  The  Jcv/s  now  ce- 
lebrated the  Dedication  of  the 
temple  —  This  grand  aniver- 
fary  happened  in  the  depth  of 
winter, 

23  At  this  feftival,  as  Jcfus 
was  walking  in  Solomon** 
portico, 

24  the  Jews  came  about 
him,  and  faid  —  How  long 
will  you  keep  us  in  this  cruel 
fufpenfe  ?  —  If  you  really  are 

Y  2  the 


324  T^he  Hiftory 

the  MefTiah,  aflcrt  it  in  plain  1 
and  explicit  terms  ^. 

25  Jcfus  laid  to  them —  I 
have  told  you  agaia  and  a- 
gain  who  1  am,  and  you  will 
not  credit  me — I  appeal  to 
my  miracles — ^  The  operations 
I  am  empowered  by  my  fa- 
ther to  perform,  give  the 
moll  folemn  fandlion  and  at- 
teftation  to  my  charafler. 

26  But  this  ilrong  and  re- 
peated evidence  you  rejed — 
becaufe,  as  I  have  often  af- 
fured  you,  you  are  not  pof- 
felfed  of  that  ingenuous,  can- 
did, and  fincerely  virtuous 
difpofition,  with  which  my 
flock  is  endowed. 

2  7  For  my  fhecp  are  obe- 
dient to  my  call 1  regard 

them   with  tendernefs  as  my 

beloved  property They 

chcarfuily  follow  m.e  where- 
cver  1  condu6l  them. 

28  I  will  refcaethem  from 
eternal  dcflrudtion,  and  be- 
ftow  upon  them  eternal  life 
— nor  lliall  any  force  and  vio- 
lence ever  wreft  them  from 
my  prote6lion. 

29  The  Deity,  who  origi- 
nally engaged  them  to  col- 
left  and  com  pole  my  flock, 
is  pofl^elTed  of  inflnite  and  un- 
controulable  power  —  None 
can  oppofe  his  will,  and  tear 
them  out  of  his  hands. 


of  Jesus  Chap.  x. 

30  To  efi^eft  this  great  de- 
fign  1  and  the  Deity  are  unir- 
ed  together  by  the  firmeft 
m.uiual  ties. 

3 1  At  this  the  rage  of  the 
Jews  knew  no  bounds — they 
took  up  ftones,  being  deter- 
mined to  rufli  upon  him  and 
murder  him. 

3  2  Jefus  laid  to  them — To 
confirm  to  you  my  mifllon 
from  the  fupreme  Father  of  all 
I    worked    many   beneficent 

miracles  among  you for 

which  of  thefe  is  it  that  you 
are  determined  to  flied  my 
blood  ? 

33  The  Jews  replied  —  It 
is  not  for  any  beneficent  mi- 
racle that  you  have  perform- 
ed, that  we  intend  to  punilh 
you  with  death — It  is  for  the 
horrid  blafphemy  you  have 
uttered,  and  for  your  impi- 
ous arrogance,  that  you  a 
vain  mortal  fliould  afliert 
yourfelf  to  be  a  God. 

34  Jefus  laid  to  them 

Are  not  magiftrates  in  your 
facred  books  called  Gods  ? 

Q^^  Now  "  fince  eminent 
perlons  highly  favoured  of 
the  Almighty  are  exprefsly 
called  Gods  in  the  fcriptures, 
which  are  deemed  the  oracles 
and  Ible  ftandard  of  truth, 

36  can  ycu  confidently  be 
exafperated  at  nic^  whom  the 


•^  Their  real  Jefign  was  to  accufe  him  to  the  Ranans,  if  he  alL-rtcd  ir, 
<=  So  u  frequently  fignifies  with  an  Indicative. 

4  Deity 


Chap.  xi. 

Deky  hath  honoured  with 
llich  an  exalted  and  dillin- 
giiiflied  dignity,  and  dele- 
gated to  be  tlie  meflengcr  of 
his  will  to  mankind,  for  al- 
fuming  the  title  of  the  Son  cf 
Godr 

.;,.,^7  If  I  do  not  the  m'.racles 
which  a  divine  meffcnfi-er 
might  be  juftiy  expeded  to 
perform,  do  not  credit  me. 

38  But  if  I  do — the'  you 
are  not  diipofed  to  credit  me 
on  my  own  authority,  yet  let 
the  operations  themfelves  con- 
vince  you,  what  a  clofe  and 
intimate  union  fubfifts  be- 
tween the  Deity  and  me. 

39  At  this  their  rage  kind- 
led afrelh,  and  they  attempt- 
ed to  apprehend  him  by  force 
— but  Jefus  eluded  their  rage, 
and    made    his    efcape  from 

r  40  and  paffing  over  the  ri- 
ver Jordan  he  went  to  the 
place  where  John  formerly 
baptized,  and  there  refided 
iome  tixe. 

41  Hither  great  numbers 
reforted  to  hear  his  inftrucli- 
ons,  and  faid  —  John  indeed 
worked  no  miraclc^s,  but  every 
circumftance,  which  John 
related  concerning  this  per- 
fon,  hath  proved  true. 

42  Here  great  numbers 
were  convinced  that  he  was 
the  Meffiah. 


4y   John.  ^25 

CHAP.  XI. 
1  \X7HILE  Jefus  conti- 
»  '  nued  in  this  coun- 
try, a  certain  friend  of  his 
called  Lazarus,  an  inhabitant 
of  Bethany,  the  brother  of 
Martha  and  Mary,  fell  fick. 

2 This    Mary  was  the 

perfon,  who  anointed  our 
Lord  with  that  coflly  per- 
fume, and  who  wiped  away 
the  tears,  with  which  Ihe 
bedewed  his  feet,  with  her 
hair 


3  The  two  fillers,  there- 
fore, difpatched  a  mefienger 
to  Jefus,  to  inform  him. 
That  the  perfon,  for  whom 
he  had  fo  tender  a  regard, 
was  very  dangeroufly  indif- 
poled. 

4  When  Jefus  received  the 
mefliig-e  he  laid —  This  fick- 
nefs,  under  which  he  la- 
bours, v/ill  not  germinate  in 
death — It  is  permitted  in  or- 
der that  the  omnipotence  of 
God  may  be  glorioufly  dif- 
played,  and  that  it  may  af- 
ford the  ion  of  man  a  public 
opportunity  of  exerting  his 
miraculous  power,  and  con- 
firming his  divine  mifiion* 

5  Jefus  regarded  all  this 
family  with  dillinguijQied  af- 
te6Vion. 

6  But  notwithftanding  his 
affectionate  efteem  and  love 
for  them,  he  ftayed  ^  two  days 


<'  In  order   that  there  might  be  no  fufpicion  of  a  collufion  with  the 
t'amily. 


Y  3 


longer 


32  6 


The  Hiftory 


longer  in  the  place  where  the 
meiienger  found  him. 

7  After  this  time  was  ex- 
pired he.  faid  to  his  difciples 
— Let  us  return  into  Judsea. 

8  The  difciples  alarmed  at 
fo  '.untxpeded  a  propold, 
faid  —  Can  you  think,  Sir ! 
of  returning  into  this  coun- 
try,, after  the  Jews  have 
made  fo  many  attempts  to 
murder  you  ? 

9  Jekis  replied — Are  there 
not  twelve  hours  in  the  day, 
and  doth  not  the  fun  illumi- 
nate the  path  of  him,  who 
feduloufly  hufbands  and  im- 
proves them  ? 

10  But  he  who  defers  his 
labours  to  the  vmfeafonable 
hours  of  night,  finds  himfelf 
deprived  of  the  ufeful  beams 
of  night,  and  furrounded 
with  uncomfortable  dark- 
nefs,  which  will  impede  and 
entirely  fruftratc  the  in- 
tendt;d  dil'charge  of  his 
duty. 

1 1  After  he  had  fpoken 
thefe  words,  he  faid  to  them 

Lazarus,    our  common 

friend,  is  now  funk  into  re- 
poie,  but  I  am  going  to  a- 
•wake  him. 

,12  The  difciples  fiid 

Sir!  the  circumftance  you 
mention  of  his  being  thrown 
into  a  foft  and  profound  re- 
•j  ofe  is  an  happy  indication 
of  ,his  fpeedy  recovery. 

J  3  Jefus  by  r'cfofe  meant 


of  Jesus.         Chap.  xi. 

the  repofe  of  death — but  they 
did  not  interpret  his  words 
in  this  fenie. 

14  When  Jefus  found  they 
mifunderftood  him,  he  told 
them  plainly  that  Lazarus 
had  breathed  his  lad. 

15  And  I  am  very  glad 
upon  your  account,  he  add- 
ed, that  I  was  not  at  Betha- 
ny at  the  time  of  his  illnefs — 
for  his  death  v/ill  redound  to 
the  confirmation  of  your  faith 
in  me — Let  us,  however,  go 
to  him. 

16  Thomas  called  Didy- 
mus  tlien  turned  to  his  fellow 
difciples  and  faid — Let  us  ac- 
company our  mafter  into  Ju- 
dsea — As  he  rufhes  into  cer- 
tain death  let  us  voluntarily 
fhare  it  with  him. 

17  Upon  his  arrival  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Bethany, 
he  was  informed  that  Lazar- 
us had  been  interred  four 
days. 

§  —  18  Now  as  Bethany 
was  but  about  two  miles  from 
Jerufalem, 

1.9  a  great  number  of  the 
citizens  v/ere  come,  to  pay  a 
iuournful  vifit  to  the  two  dif- 
confolate  fifters,  and  to  con- 
dole with  them  the  lofs  of 
their  brother. 

20  Soon  as  Martha  heard 
that  Jefus  was  on  the  road, 
Ihe  hailed  to  meet  him — but 
her  fifter  ftayed  in  the  houfe 
with  the  cofnpany. 

2 1  When 


Chap.  xl.  by  J 

2  1  When  Martha  faw  Je- 

jus  flie  fiiid  to  him Had 

you,  Sir !  come  Iboner  I 
fhould  not  have  loft  my  dear 
brother ! 

2  2  But  even  yet,  the'  you 
have  delayed  lb  long,  v/hat- 
ever  favour  you  implore  the 
Almighty  to  beftow,  I  am 
perluaded  he  will  not  deny 
you. 

2  3  Jefus  faid  to  her— Your 
brother  fliall  be  reftored  to 
life. 

24  I  believe,  replied  Mar- 
tlia,  he  will  be  reftored  to 
life  at  the  general  refurrec- 
tion. 

25  Jefus  faid  to  her — I  am 
the  author  of  the  refurredlion, 
and  the  donor  of  immortality 
— He  who  is  convinced  that 
I  am  a  divine  meftenger,  and 
obeys  my  doclrines,  tha'  he 
die,  he  lliall  one  day  be  raif- 
ed  to  the  poffeflion  of  eternal 
life; 

26  and  every  fincere  pro- 
feflbr  of  my  religion,  who  is 
living  at  my  fecond  coming, 
fhall  never  feel  the  ftroke  of 
death  to  all  eternity  " Be- 
lie veft  thou  thefe  truths .? 

27  I  believe.  Sir!  ftie  re- 
plied, that  you  are  the  great 
Mefliah,  the  illuftrious  fon 
ot  God,  whofe  coming  the 
antient  prophets  predided. 


0  H  N.  ^27 

1  28  After  n-se  had  faid  this, 
file  went,  as  Jefus  had  defir- 
ed  her,  to  her  fifter,  and  in  a 
low  voice,  informed  her,  that 
the  great  prophet  was  come, 
and  wanted  to  fee  her. 

29  When  ftie  heard  this, 
ftie  rofe  up  that  moment,  and 
hafted  to  meet  him. 

30  Jefus  had  not  proceed- 
ed further  towards  the  vil- 
lage, but  ftopped  in  the  place" 
where  Martha  at  firft  met 
him. 

31  When  the  company, 
who  were  with  her  and  had 
come  to  confole  her  grief,  per- 
ceived vv-ich  what  hafte  fhe 
got  up  and  left  the  room  — 
they  all  concluded  that  ftie 
was  gone  to  the  grave  to 
pour  a  flood  of  tears  over  her 
deceafed  brother and  ac- 
cordingly they  followed  her, 

32  When  Mary  was  come 
up  to  Jefus,  ftie  proftrated 
herfelf  at  his  feet  and  faid  — 
Had  you  been  pleafed.  Sir ! 
to  have  come  iboner  I  fliould 
not  have  loft  m.y  dear  brother! 

'i^'l  When  Jefus  faw  her 
bathed  in  tears,  and  the  Jews, 
who  were  v/ith  her  diftolved 
in  a  flood  of  grief,  the  mourn- 
ful fcene  atfe6led  him  with 
the  ftrongeft  fympathy  and 
forrow. 

34  He  afked  where  they 


e  But  fliould,   by  a  foft  tranfition,  be  made  immortal  without  dying, 
St.  Paul  afferts  the  fame  doiSrine,     i  Thef,  iv.  17. 

y  4  had 


328  "The  Hiftory 

had  laid  his  remains  —  They 
laid,  Pleafe,  Sir !  to  attend 
us  to  the  place. 

OjC^  Jeius  buril  into  a  flood 
of  tears. 

Q^^  The  Jews,    feeing  the 
tears  ftream  from   his   eyes, 

faid  to  one  another -How 

tenderly  did  he  love  the  de- 
ceafed  !' 

■  3  7  But  others  among  them 
faid,  with  a  farcaftical  fneer 
— Could  not  this  perfon,  who 
lately  performed  fuch  a  mi- 
racle upon  the  blind  man, 
have  prevented  his  beloved 
friend  from  dying  ! 

38    This    their    incredu- 
lity  afPeded  Jefus  and  filled 

him  with  great  emotion 

Arriving  at   the  monument, 


which  was  dug  in  the  rock, 
and  had  its  entrance  blocked 
up  with  a  large  (lone, 

39  Jefus  faid  —  Remove 
the  ilone  —  Martha  the  filler 
of  the  deceafed  faid-r— By  this 
time,  Sir !  his  corpfe  muft 
be  very  offenfive,  for  it  is 
four  days  fince  his  inter- 
ment ^ 

40  Jefus  fiid  to  her — ^I)id 
not  I  allure  you  that  if  you 
were  convinced  that  I  was  a 

♦"  y^-tazTdti^  /ignifics  cnc,  who  has  continu(5d"in"ariy  Rateor  place 
four  days,  and  Jtiuit  here  refer  not  to  liis  Jeaih,  biit  to  his  imrrment. 
TiTcte  laiot  i-TTi  To/<    opioif   syifovTo.     On   the  lourth  day  they  arrivtd 


£/'  Jesus  Chap.  xi. 

divine  mefienger,  you  would 
fee  the  power  of  God  glori- 
oufly  exerted  ? 

4 1  They  then  removed  the 
(tone  from  the  mouth  of  the 
tomb  • —  After  which  Jefus 
lolemnly  lifted  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven  and  faid  —  Almighty 
Father,  I  thank  thee  that 
thou  hail  heard  my  prayer, 
and  granted  my  requeil. 

42  I  am  confcious  that  thou 
art  ever  ready  to  beftow  the 
favours  I  implore — But  I  have 
preferred  this  public  and  fo- 
lemn  addrefs  to  thee,  in  or- 
der that  the  furrounding  mul- 
titude may  be  convinced  that 
this  miracle  is  worked  by  a 
divine  power,  and  that  I  am 
thy  meffenger. 

43  Having  offered  this 
prayer,  he  cried  out  with  a 
loud  and  ftrong  voice  — ^  La- 
zarus !  come  forth  ! 

44  That  moment  the  corpfe 
came  forth,  fwathed  as  it  was 
with  linen  rollers,  and  the 
face  muffled  up  in  a  napkin, 
according  tothejewifhritesof 
fcpulpture — Jeius  faid  to  the 
Ipeftators  —  Dilengage  him, 
and  give  him  free  liberty  to 
walk  K 


at  the  confines.     J{eii.  Cyrop.  p.  266.  liutchin/ony 
TiTcfcrci  0/  K-ITAV7CI  ail.      Died.  Siculus,   p.  167. 


8vo. 


i  For  he  could  not  nval'c  for  the  rollers. 


Edit.  Rhcdcm. 
Being  itijl^ntc'.m'cvjly  reflored 


to  his  former  health  and  llrength,  he  made  a  fhift  to  throw  hiitifelf  out  of 
the  toaib.     Dr.  ^f»/w;'s  Sermons.     S^tnon  i.  p.  15. 

45  By 


Chap.  XI.  fy    ]  o 

45  By  this  miracle,  many 
of  the  Jews,  who  were  come 
to  coniole  the  mourning  fil- 
ters, bt'ing  fpeclators  of  the 
divine  power  that  Jei'us  now 
exerted,  were  convinced  that 
he  was  the  Meffiah. 

46  Some,  however,  who 
were  prefent  on  this  occafion, 
went  direcl:]y  to  the  Pharifees, 
and  gave  them  a  minute  de- 
tail of  the  v.'hole  tranfacfLion. 

47  The  high  priefts  .and 
Pharifees,  receiving  this  ac- 
count, convened  a  general 
council  —  in  which  they  de- 
liberated how  they  fliould  adt 
in  the  prefent  conjuncture, 
and  what  meafures  they  fliould 
obftrve  towards  a  man  who 
performed  fo  many  aftonifli- 
ing  operations. 

48  If  we,  faid  they,  tamely 
fuffer  him  to  go  on  in  this 
manner,  unm^olefted,  the 
whole  nation  will  become 
his  converts,  and  conftitute 
him  their  leader  and  fove- 
reign — which  will  drav/  upon 
us  the  reftntment  of  the  Ro- 
mans, and  provoke  them  to 
deprive  us  for  ever  of  all  our 
privileges  civil  and  facred. 

49  Then  Caiaphas,  v/howas 
ihat  year  high  prieft,  flood  up 
and  Ipoke  —  You  all  appear 
£0  be  perfe6b  ftrangers  to  the 
true  interefts  of  your  country. 

I   am   ailq^^i^^ed   you 


^O 


H   N.  ^29 

(liould  not  refleft  that  it  is 
highly  expedient  that  the  life 
of  one  individual  fhould  be 
facrificed  for  the  public  uti- 
lity, rather  than  that  the  whole 
community  fliould  be  fatally- 
endangered.  . 

5 1  Thefe  words,  which  the 
high  prieft  now  pronounced, 
may  be  interpreted  in  a  pro- 
phetic fenfe  -—  a  fenfe  indeed 
which  he  himfelf  never  in- 
tended —  and  may  be  under- 
llood  as  a  declaration  from 
the  mouth  of  the  high  prieft 
himfelf.  That  Jefus  was  to 
fall  a  facrifice  for  the  good  of 
the  Jewifh  community. 

52  ^  But  it  was  not  merely 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Jewifli 
community  that  Jefus  fub- 
mitced  to  death,  but  in  or- 
der that  the  pious  and  vir- 
tuous difperfed  in  every  na- 
tion might  be  colle6ted  to- 
gether, and  formed  into  one 
common  fociety. 

53  From  that  day  they  en- 
tered into  a  refolution  to  put 
him  to  death. 

54  Jefus,  therefore,  con- 
fcious  of  their  fanguinary  de- 
figns  did  not  any  longer  pub- 
lick  ly  travel  about  the  city, 
but  removed  to  the  borders 
of  the  v/ildernefs,  and  redd- 
ed, along  v/ith  his  difciples, 
in  a  town  called  Ephraim. 

^^55  The   Jewifh  paflb- 

of  thj  EvangeHil:. 


ver 


33^ 

ver  now  approached — before 
the  adual  commencement  of 
which  folemnity  great  num- 
bers, as  was  cuftomary,  re- 
paired, from  all  parts  of  Ju- 
daea, to  the  capital,  to  puri- 
fy themfelves. 

^6  This  great  concourfe 
of  people,  nleeting  together 
in  the  temple,  made  anxious 
enquiries  after  Jefus,  and 
afked  one  another.  If  they 
knew  he  intended  to  abfent 
himfelf  from  the  approaching 
feftival. 

^y  For  the  high  priefls 
^nd  Pharifees  aifembled  in 
council  had  ifiued  out  a  pub- 
lic proclamation That  if 

any  perfon  knew  where  he 
was,  he  fhould  immediately 
difcover  him,  that  he  might 
be  apprehended. 

CHAP.    XII. 

I  C  I X  days  before  the  paf- 
*^  chal  folemnity  Jefus 
came  to  Bethany,  where  La- 
zarus, whom  he  had  lately 
raifed  to  life,  refided. 
-  '-2'^The  family,  therefore, 
made  a  great  entertainment 

for  iiim at  which  Martha 

^;faited,  but  Lazarus  fat  down 
with  the  relt  of  the  company. 
3  But  while  they  were  at 
•table,  Mary  took  a  pound  of 
extremely  rich  and  coftly  per- 
fume, which  fhe  diffuied  o- 
vcr  the  feet  of  Jefus,    as  he 


T/je  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xii. 


was  reclining  on  the  couch, 
and  then  Ihe  wiped  them  with 
her  hair — With  the  odour  of 
this  valuable  and  fragrant  per- 
tume  the  whole  houfe  was 
filled. 

4  Judas  Ifcariot,  the  fon 
of  Simon,  who  afterwards 
betrayed  him,  ieeing  this  ac- 
tion, faid 

5  —  Ought  this  rich  per- 
fume to  have  been  lavifiied 
in  this  manner  ?  —  Ought  it 
not  rather  to  have  been  fold 
for  three  hundred  denarii,  and 
the  money  diilributed  among 
the  poor ! 

6  He  faid  this,  not  that 
he  had  any  concern  for  the 
poor — but  this  language  was 
the  dictate  of  an  avaricious 
heart  —  for  being  appointed 
purfe-bearer  to  Jt!fus  and  his 
difciples,  he  uled  to  convert 
fome  of  the  money  unjuftly 
to  his  own  private  ufe. 

7  Jefus  laid — Let  not  her 
conduft  fill  you  with  indig- 
nation—  I  confider  this  per- 
fume fhe  hath  now  bcftowed 
on  my  perfon  in  the  light  of 
funeral  honours  paid  to  me. 

8  For  poor  objeds  you  will 

ahvays  have  around  you 

but  1  fliall  continue  with  you 
but  a  very  fliort  time. 

§ — 9  When  the  common 
people  received  information 
that  Jefus  was  at  Bethany 
they  flocked  thither  in  prodi- 
^feus  crowds— —not  actra6lcd 

only 


Chap.  xii. 


only  by  a  curiofity  to  lee  Je- 
lus,  but  to  fee  Lazarus,  whom 
he  had  railed  to  life. 

10  The  high  priefts,  there- 
fore, formed  a  relblution  to 
murder  Lazarus  too, 

1 1  becaule  fuch  numbers 
were  convinced  that  Jelus 
was  a  divine  meflenger  by  the 
miracle  he  had  performed  in 
reanimating  his  dead  body. 

§ — 12  The  day  after  this, 
^  prodigious  multitude,  who 
had  come  from  all  parts  to 
celebrate  the  fedival,  being 
informed  that  Jefus  was  on 
the  road  to  Jerufalem, 

13  took  branches  of'  palm 
trees,    and    went    in   folemn 

procefTion  to  meet  him 

piercing  the  air  with  joyful 
acclamations,  and  fhouting — 
Hofannah,  Blefied  is  the  great 
fovcreign  of  Ifrael,  who  now 
comes  in  veiled  with  the  full 
power  and  authority  of  Je- 
hovah ! 

14  Jefus  advanced  towards 
the  city,  riding  upon  a  .young 
afs  — by  which  circumftance 
the  following  antient  predic- 
tion was  verified : 

15  "  Indulge,  O  daughter 
of  Sion,  the  higheft  tranfports 
of  joy  —  for  thy  king  is  ap- 
proaching thy  gates,  fitting 
on  the  foal  of  an  afs." 

16  The  difciples  did  not 
then  comprehend  the  reafon 


fy     J  O  H  N.  231 

of  this  pomp  and  magnifi- 
cence with  which  Jefus  was 
ufhered  into  the  city  —  but 
after  his  afcenfion  they  un- 
derftood  that  thefe  circum- 
ilances  had  been  exprefsly 
foretold  by  the  prophets. 

1 7  The  people,  who  were 
along  with  him,  when  he 
called  Lazarus  from  the  tomb, 
and  inftantaneoufly  reftored 
him  to  life,  in  the  moft  pub- 
lic manner  atteiled  this  mi- 
racle : 

1 8  And  the  accounts,  which 
were  univerfally  propagated 
of  this  ftupendous  tranfadion 
were  the  principal  reafon  that 
induced  the  multitude  to 
flock  in  fuch  numbers  out  of 
the  eity  to  meet  him,  and  to 
efcort  him  thither  with  fuch 
magnificent  pomp  and  loud 
acclamations. 

19  But  the  Pharifees,  en- 
raged beyond  meafure  at  the 
honours  that  were  paid  him 
on  this  occafion,  faid  one  to 
another — Do  not  you  fee  that 
all  our  meafures  to  crufh  this 
impoftor  are  of  no  avail .?  •— * 
Behold  !  the  whole  world  is 
colle6led  about  him  ! 

§  — 20  There  were  then 
the    city     fome    devout 


m 


Greeks,  who  had  travelled 
up  to  folemnize  the  feftival, 
and  to  pay  their  religious 
adoration. 


Emblems  and  infignia  of  vidory  and  triumph. 


21  Thcfe 


322 

21  Thefe  ftrangers  waited 
upon  Philip,  who  came  from 
Bethlaida  a  town  in  Galilee, 
and  earneftly  begged  they 
might,  by  his  means,  have 
an  interview  with  Jefus. 

2  2  Philip  acquainted  An- 
drew with  this  requefi: — they 
both  waited  upon  Jefus,  and 
told  him  what  favour  they 
were  defired  to  folicit  of  him. 

23  When  Jefus  heard  this 
petition  of  the  Greeks,  he 
faid — Now  is  the  time  arriv- 
ed, when  the  fon  of  man  fliall 
be  diftinguifhed  with  the  mofl: 
illuftrious  honours '', 

24  Be  afTured,  That  if  a 
grain  of  wheat,  that  is  bu- 
ried in  the  cultivated  foil,  do 
not  die,  it  is  impoffible  the 
principles  of  vegetation  fhould 
take  place — but  if,  when  it  is 
admitted  into  the  ground,  it 
is  corrupted  and  dilfolved,  it 
will  yield  an  ample  and  copi- 
ous produce '. 

25  He,  who  is  defirous  by 
mean  and  wicked  compliances 
to  fave  his  life,  fhall  lofe  it  to 
all  eternity — but  he,  who  will 
chearfully  lofe  life  rather  than 
violate  his  confcience  and  du- 
ty to  mc,    fhall  in  a  future 


T^be  Hiflory  of  Jesus         Chap,  xil* 


ftate  recover  it  with  infinite 
advantage. 

26  He  that  is  powerfully 
difpofed  to  ferve  me,  let  him 
follow  me  with  a  fbeady  arui 
unfhaken  refolution  —  for  to 
the  fame  blelTed  feats,  to  which 
I  afcend,  fhall  he  be  admitted 
—  All  my  faithful  and  virtu- 
ous fervants  will  my  Father 
aUb  reward  with  diftinguifhed 
honours. 

27  My  mind  is  greatly  a- 
larmed  and  (hocked  at  the 
view  of  my  impending  fuffer- 
ings 1  am  involved  in  the 


mofl:  cruel  and  perplexing 
difficulties  —  Merciful  God  ! 
avert  from  m)e  the  approach- 
ing horrors  of  death — but  1 
check  myfelf — for  to  "'  fullain 
this  I  came  into  the  world. 

28  Almighty  Father  !  I  re- 
fign  myfelf  to  thy  will !  Do 
thou  confult  the  glorious  ends 
of  thy  moral  government ! — 
Soon  as  he  had  laid  this,  a 
voice  from  the  f!-:y  articulat- 
ed thefe  words  —  I  have,  by 
thee,  gloriouHy  confulted,  an<l 
will "  continue  to  confult,  i!ic 
great  ends  of  my  government. 

29  The  crowds  who  fur- 


rounded    him, 


hearing 


this 


^  By  the  converfion  of  the  Heathens. 

'  Alluding  to  his  death  zud  refurreclion,  and  xX\t  fnhfequcnt  converfion  of 
the  Gentiles. 

■"  For  had  not  Chrift  died,  ChrilHanity  would  have  been  cruflicd  in 
its  infancy. 

"  By  his  refurredion,  afccnfion,  effufion  of  the  fpirit. 

voice 


Chap,  xii:  by    J 

voice  indiftinflly,  fome  faid 
* — k  was  thunder  —  others, 
who  heard  the  words  more 
plainly,  declared — It  v;as  an 
Angel  that  Ipoke  to  him. 

30  Jefus  laid  to  them  — 
This  heavenly  voice  was  not 
uttered  io  much  on  my  ac- 
count as  upon  yours  —  that 
you  might  be  convinced  that 
I  am  a  divine  meffenger. 
■  31  Now  is  the  immorality 
of  the  world  going  to  be  con- 
demned and  dcftroyed — Now 
is  its  great  "  Sovereign  going 
to  be  dethroned  ! 

32  When  I  am  elevated 
above  the  earth,  I  will  at- 
tract all  nations  to  me  by  my 
powerful  influence. 

33  By  his  elevation  above 
the  earth  he  alluded  to  the 
particular  Q\vcum^2.\\cc%  of  his 
death. 

34  The  multitude  replied 
—  Our  facred  books  inform 
us  that  the  Meffiah  is  never 
to  die,  but  to  continue  with 
us  for  ever  —  What  induces 
you,  therefore,  to  fay  that 
the  fon  of  man  muft  be  ele- 
vated from  the  earth  .'' 

Who  is  this  fon  of  man  .^ 

35  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
The  light  you  now  enjoy  will 
continue  with  you  but  a  very 
fliort  time  —  Be  dilij^ent  in 
making  the  beft   ufe  of  its 


O  H  N.  ;j^3 

beams,  while  they  are  indulg- 
ed to  you,  before  the  gloom 
of  darknefs  feize  and  envelop 
you  —  For  he  who  hath  fuf- 
fered  the  horrors  of  darknefs 
to  overtake  him,  knoweth 
not  the  path  he  tread^,  or 
whither  his  uncertain  fteps 
will  condudt  him. 

2,6  While,  therefore,  this 
light  is  difFufed  around  you, 
be  perfuaded  that,  it  is  de- 
rived from  a  divine  and  hea- 
venly fource,  and  it  will  il- 
luminate  and  guide  you   to 

happinefs When  he  had 

finifhed  this  difcourle  he  pri- 
vately retired  from  them. 

37  But  notwithilanding  all 
the  demonftrations  of  divine 
power  which  he  exhibited 
before  them  in  the  moft  pub- 
lic manner,  they  obftinately 
perfifted  in  their  infidelity. 

38  So  that  the  following 
predi6lion  of  Ifaias  was  ac- 
complifhed — "  O  Lord  !  how 
few  have  been  convinced  by 
all  the  proofs  that  have  been 
publickly  difplayed  !  How 
few  have  acknowledged  the 
divine  hand  in  the  miraculous 
power  that  hath  been  ex- 
erted !  " 

39  Their  abandoned  vices 
and  depraved  minds  rendered 
it  morally  impofnble  they 
fliould  receive  him  as  a  divine 


Jupiter,  he  means  the  Pagan  mythology. 


teacher 


334  ^^-'^  liiflory 

teacher  —  for  their  profligate 
difpolitions  are  again  juftly 
delbribed  by  Ifaias. 

40  "  The  eyes  of  this  peo- 
ple are   totally  obfcurcd    by 

prejudice their  realoning 

powers  are  entirely  blunted 
by  prepoflenion — fo  that  they 
have  neither  the  faculties  ot 
feeing,  hearing,  or  under- 
ftanding,  to  beftow  on  any 
fcheme  that  hath  a  tendency 
to  produce  a  general  refor- 
mation and  amendment  of 
life  among  them." 

41  Thefe  clear  exprefs  pre- 
dictions Ifaias  uttered,  when 
he  had  the  future  fcenes  of 
the  MefTiah's  glory  ftrongly 
difplayed  before  his  mind. 

42  But  however  %  even  of 
the  moft  eminent  perfonages, 
notwithftanding  their  general 
rejeftion  of  him,  there  were 
many  who  were  convinced 
that  he  had  a  divine  commif- 
fion — but  for  fear  of  the  im- 
placable refentment  of  the 
Pharifees,  they  durft  not 
openly  acknowledge  their 
perfuafions,  left  they  (hould 
be  excommunicated. 

43  For  they  chofe  rather 
to  continue  in  the  reputation 
and  efteem  of  men,  than 
from  a  principle  of  truth  and 
confcience  to  promote  the  ho- 

•  nour  of  God  and  the  caufe  of 
true  religion. 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xli. 

§ — 44  After  this  Jefus 
railed  his  voice  and  laid — He, 
who  believes  me  to  have  a  di- 
vine commifTion,  may  more 
properly  be  faid  to  believe  in 
that  Being,  from  whom  I  re- 
ceived it. 

45  He  who  feeth  the  di- 
vine power  I  exert,  feeth  the 
operations  of  Him  who  fent 
me. 

46  I  defcended  from  hea- 
ven to    illuminate  the  world 

that  every  one,  who  be- 


lieves me  to  be  delegated  from 
God,  might  not  remain"  for 
ever  in  gloomy  and  impene- 
trable darknefs. 

47  But  if  any  one  difbe- 
lieve  my  dodlrines,  and  be 
determined  not  to  be  convin- 
ced— I  will  not  at  prefent  con- 
demn and  punilli  him — for  I 
defcended  on  earth  not  to 
condemn,  but  lave,  man- 
kind. 

48  He,  who  wilfully  re- 
jefts  me  and  mine  inftrudtions, 
fhall  not  however  pafs  uncon- 

demned The  doftrines, 

which  I  have  delivered,  fhall 
at  the  general  refurredtion  con- 
dcmn  him,  and  greatly  ag. 
gravate  his  guilt  and  his  pu-- 
nifliment, 

49  becaiife  the  inftruClions, 
I  have  delivered,  were  not 
the  dictates  of  mine  own  wif- 
doni  or  inculcated  by  mine 


'  Oy.ui  (^.iVTct  Kat. 


own 


Chap.  xiii.  by    J 

own  authority — but  the  fu- 
preme  Father,  who  originally 
commiffioned  me  to  teach 
mankind,  gave  me  the  moft 
explicit  and  particular  injunc- 
tions, what  I  fhould  deliver, 
and  what  truths  I  fhould  re- 
veal : 

50  And  as  I  am  confcious 
that  the  dodrincs  he  hath 
commiflioned  me  to  teach  are 
the  conditions  of  eternal  life, 
fo  do  I  propofe  to  mankind, 
with  the  greateft  fidelity,  thefe 
divine  precepts,  which  my 
Father  hath  appointed  me  to 
publifli. 

CHAP.    XIII. 

E  F  O  R  E  they  cele- 
brated the  pafchal  fo- 
lemnity,  Jefus,  who  knew 
that  the  time  was  now  arriv- 
ed, when  he  fliould  quit  this 
world  and  return  to  the  Fa- 
ther, thought  proper  to  ex- 
prefs  to  his  difciples  that  ar- 
dent and  affedlionate  love, 
which  he  had  ever  maintain- 
ed for  them  from  the  time  he 
eleded  them  to  the  final  pe- 
riod of  his  life. 


OHN.  -i^^^ 

2  For  Judas  Ifcariot,  the 
fon  of  Simon,  had  already 
been  inftigated  by  the  diabo- 
lical wickednefs  of  his  heart 
to  form  a  defign  of  delivering 
him  into  the  hands  of  his 
enemies.  "^ 

3  Jefus  being  confcious 
that  the  Father  had  entrulled 
him  with  the  moft  extenfive 
power  and  authority,  that  he 
originally  defcended  from  him, 
and  was  now  very  fhortly  to 
return  to  him — 

4  rofe  abruptly  from  table, 
when  the  pafchal  fupper  was 
now  ready,  ftripped  off  his 
upper  garment,  and  girded 
himfelf  with  a  towel,  like  a 
fervant. 

5  He  then  poured  water 
into  a  bafon,  and  began  to 
walh  his  difciples  '^  feet,  and 
to  wipe  them  with  the  towel, 
which  he  had  tied  about  him, 

6  But  when,  proceeding  in 
a  regular  order,  he  came  to 
Simon  Peter,  he  laid  to  him 
— Sir !  do  you  debafe  your- 
felf  to  wafh  my  feet ! 

7  Jefus  faid  to  him  — You 
do  not  as  yet  underftand  the 
intention  of  this  aftion — after 


"J  An  office,  which  was  performed  by  the  meaneft  flaves.  Ft»/  cTs 
x-Bt/e®-  m,  j'i-rv^.  y.  T.  A.  "  When  it  was  now  time  to  W  and  the 
mailer  of  the  yeffel  had  got  ready  what  accommodations  he  could  provide - 
Phaomus,  feeing  Pcmbey,  for  want  of  attendants,  begin  to  wa(h  himfelf' 
haftily  ran  to  him,  and  performed  for  him  all  thofe  menial  oHices  whick 
ilaves   perform  to  their  mailers,  even   to  the  wafhing  of  L's  feet  •  "  o^^ 


Steph.   8vo.  p.  1203. 


j/"4:fe'f   rroSuv.     Plutarch  Pompey.    Edit.  Gr. 

I  have 


33<5 

I  have  performed  h  upon  all 
I  will  acquaint  you  witli  its 
defign. 

8  Peter  replied — You  fliall 
never  perform  this  humble 
fervile  office  to  me  —  Jtlus 
faid — If  you  refufe  to  fubmit 
to  it,  you  will  have  no  claim 
to  the  characler  of  my  dil- 
ciple. 

9  Simon  anfwered  —  Do 
not  then,  Sir  !  merely  wafli 
my  feet,  but  my  hands,  and 
my  head. 

ro  Jefus  replied  —  As  he, 
who  comes  out  of  a  bath, 
hath  his  whole  perfon  clean, 
except  only  his  feci,  which 
contrads  filth  by  treading  on 
the  ground  —  fo  are  you  my 
difcipies  clean,  but  not  all  of 
you. 

1 1  For  he  knew  the  perfon, 
who  intended  to  betray  him 
—  It  was  from  his  perfedl 
knowiedfje  of  his  wickednefs 
that  he  now  faid — you  are  not 
all  clean. 

12  After  he  had  wafhedall 
his  difcipies  feet,  he  put  on 
his  cloaths,  and  refumed  liis 
former  feat  a:  table  —  then 
addrelnng  himlelf  to  them, 
thus  ipoke  —  Do  you  know 
the  inItru(5lion  I  intended  to 
convey  to  you  by  this  a(5lion  ? 


T/je  Hiftory  of  Jesus       Chap.  xiii. 

13  You  honour  me  with 
the  titles  of  your  inftrudor 
and  mafter — and  the  appel- 
lation is  juft  and  due  to  my 
character. 

14  If  I  then  your  exalted 
inftrut^lor  have  demeaned 
myfelf  to  wafh  your  feet  % 
you  ought  in  like  manner  to 
condefcend  to  perform  the 
humbleft  offices,  one  to  an- 
other. 

15  For  I  have  exhibited 
this  before  you  as  a  pattern, 
what  difpofitions  and  condu6t 
you  ought  to  obferve,  one 
towards  another. 

16  Suffer  me  to  aflure  you 
that  a  fervant  ought  to  prac- 
tife  that  condefcenfion  which 
his  lord  deigned  to  prafti fc 
—  a  minifter,  that  humility, 
which  he  who  gave  him  his 
commiffion  himfelf  difplayed. 

17  Since  you  know  your 
duty  in  this  inftance,  happy 
are  ye  if  you  pra6tile  it. 

I  8  Not  that  I  addrefs  thefe 

inftru(5lions  to  all for  I 

know  the  difpofitions  of  every 
one  of  you  whom  1  have  cho- 
I'en  to  be  my  companions  — 
I  know  that  to  one  of  you 
m^ay  be  juftly  applied  that 
paltage  of  fcripture  —  "  He 
that  eats  with  me  at  one  com- 


*■  "  yilexatider  fent  100  talents  to  Phccion.  On  the  arrival  of  the  mef- 
fcngers  Phocion  fetched  water  from  a  well,  and  zva/hed  their  pet.  At;- 
yi'KTin  Tit<  nro^nt..  His  performance  of  fo  fervilc  an  olfice  gave  them 
great  pain."     P/;//«rfi>  Phocion,  p.  1376. 

mOR 


Chap,  xliii 


by   J 


rnon 


table    hath  life  up  his 


lied  again  ft  me." 

19  I  thought  proper  to 
give  you  previous  informa- 
tion of  this  treachery,  that 
when  it  is  executed,  it  may 
ferve  to  corroborate  your  be- 
lief. That  I  am  the  Meffiah. 

20  In  the  moft  foiemn 
manner  I  affure  you,  that  e- 
very  one,  who  receiveth  you, 
in  effeft  receiveth  me — and 
he  who  obeys  my  inftru6lions, 
obeys  the  v/ill  of  God  who  au- 
thorized me  to  reveal  it  to 
mankind. 

21  When  Jefus  had  faid 
this,  he  funk  into  great  per- 
turbation and  diftrefs  of  mind 
— -and  after  fome  time  faid— 
Moft  certainly  I  know  that 
one  of  you  will  treacheroufly 
deliver  me  into  the  hands  of 
my  enemies. 

22  At  this  declaration  they 
were  confounded  and  looked 
with  aftonifiiment,  one  at  an- 
other, not  knowing  whom  it 
was  he  intended. 

23  One  of  the  difciples, 
whom  Jefus  diftinguiflicd 
with  his  love,  happened  then 
t:o  be  reclining  oa  his  bofom '. 

24  To  this  peribn  Simon 


O   H   N.  337 

Peter  made  a  fign,  that  he 
would  aflc  Jelus  who  the  per- 
lon  was  he  fixed  upon. 

25  This  difciplc  then  whif- 
pered  Jefus  in  the  ear,  and 
aiked  him  v/hom  he  meant, 

26  Jeilis  faid  in  a  low 
voice — He,  to  whom  I  fliail 
give  a  morfel  of  the  meat, 
after  I  have  dipped  it  in  the 
fauce,  is  the  rnan —  He  then 
dipped  a  morfel  in  the  fauce, 
and  gave  it  to  Judas  Ifcariot. 

27  After  he  had  received 
this  he  was  fired  with  refent- 
ment ',  and  inftigated  to  the 
perpetration  of  his  diabolical 
defigns — jelus  faid  t;  him — ■ 
What  you  intend  to  do,,  do  it 
immediately. 

28  But  none  of  the  reft  of 
the  company  l:new  what  ic 
was  he  ordered  Juda^.  to  do. 

29  For  fome  thought,  be- 
caule  Judas  was  the  purfe- 
bearer,  that  Jefus  had  order- 
ed him  to  purchafe  what  was 
necefiary  for  the  "  cnfuing 
days  of  the  feftival— -or,  that 
he  had  ordered  him  to  give 
(omething  to  the  poor. 

30  The  moment,  there- 
fore, after  he  had  received 
t'le  morfel  of  meat  that  Jefus 


'  He  lay  at  fuppcr  on  the  fame  couch,  and  next  to  Jofus. 

*  Becaufe  he  was  confcious  that  he  wan  the  pcrfon,  and  that  JefrnVxiZv 
it.  This  traniported  him  with  rage^  and  hurried  him  into  x.)x<iimm:diati 
execution  of  his  perfidy. 

."  The  Palfover  was  celebrated    fe-L-en  days.     E,xod.  xii.   19. 


Vol.  I. 


gave 


33S  The  Hiftory 

gave  him,  he  got  up  abrupt- 
ly, and  left  the  room  —  The 
night  was  now  advancing. 

3 1  After  he  had  quitted 
the  company,  Jefus  faid  with 
great  emotion  —  Now  is  the 
fon  of  rnan  going  to  be  dig- 
nified wi'h  the  mofl  illuftri- 
ous  honours  —  and  God  hath 
been  eminently  honoured  by 
him. 

32  And  '''  fince  God  hath 
been  conl'picuoufly  honoured 
by  his  life  and  aftions,  God 
will,  in  return,  crown  him 
with  the   mod   diilinguiflied 

honours and  thefe  he  will 

very  ^  fpeedily  confer. 

33  For,  my  dear  compa- 
nions, my  ilay  with  you  will 
be  but  of  a  very  Ihort  conti- 
nuance—  You  will  anxioully 
feek  me,  and  wifli  for  my 
prefence  among  you — but  as 
I  formerly  laid  to  the  Jews, 
fo  I  now  lay  to  you —  '  "  In- 
to the  regions  which  I  vifit, 
you  fhall  not  at  this  time  be 
admitted. 

34  A  new  precept  I  flrift- 
ly  enjoin  upon  you  —  Love 
one  another —  Thole  kind  af- 
fections, which  I  have  ever 
exprefled  towards  you,  do 
you  mutually  exprefs  to  each 
other. 

35  If  you  cultivate   and 

"'  F/  with  an  indicative,  ' 

y  He  mcani  the  grwvi. 


of  J Esvs  Chap.  xiVc' 

cherifli  that*  mAitual  love 
which  I  recommend  to  you, 
you  will  be  univerfally  diftin- 
guifhed  and  known  for  my 
difciplcs. 

36  Simon  Peter  faid  to  him 
— To  what  place.  Sir  !  do  you 
intend  to  remove  ? —  To  the 
place  where  I  am  going,  faid 
Jcius,  you  cannot  follow  me 

at  this  time but  in  fub- 

fequent  life  you  fhall  be  en- 
abled to  follow  me. 

^y  But  why,  refumcd  Pe-* 
ter,  am  not  I  permitted  nca:^ 

to  accompany  you 1  will 

moll  chearfully  lay  down  m.y 
life  for  you.  ^fi'^^i 

38  Will  you,  replied  Je- 
lus  chearfully  lay  down  your 
life  for  me  ?  —  I  affuredly  de-' 
clare  to  you,  that  before  the 
cock  crows,  you  will  three 
times,  in  the  moil  folemn 
manner  afiert  that  you  never 
was  my  difciple. 

CHAP.  xiy. 

I  T)UT  be  not  alarmed 
-LJ  and  dejeded  at  thefe 
approaching  fcenes  —  Ye  be- 
lieve in  the  Being  and  provi- 
dence of  God,  and  ye  believe 
in  my  divine  million  and  cha- 
rader. 

2    In   my   Father's    iioufc 

Alluding  to  hii  refiirredion. 

arc 


Chap.  xlv.  by   J 

are  many  ^  apartments,  fitted 
for  the  reception  of  holinefs 
and  virtue  —  If  immortality 
was  a  fiftion,  I  would  ho- 
neftly  afilire  you  it  was — but 
I  am  going  to  prepare  a  place 
for  you  in  thofe  happy  re- 
gions. 

3  And  ^  when  I  am  gone 
and  have  prepared  a  place, 
I  will  return  and  receive  you 
to  be  my  inleparable  compa- 
nions in  future  bleflednefs — 
and  in  thofe  happy  feats, 
where  I  refide,  you  fliall  for 
ever  dwell. 

4  The  place  whither  I  am 
going  you  know,  and  the  way 
that  conducts  to  it  you  know. 

5  Thomas  faith  to  him — ■ 
We  know  not.  Sir !  the  place 
to  which  you  are  removing, 
and  confequently  how  can  we 
know  the  way  that  leads  to 
it? 

6  Jefus  replied — I  am  the 
true  way  that  leads  to  eternal 
life — none  can  gain  accefs  to 
the  Father,  but  by  me. 

7  Did  you  know  my  ori- 
ginal, you  would  have  known 
my  Father,  from  whom  I  de- 
rived it  —  but  now  you  both 
know  and  fee  him. 

8  Philip  faid  to  him 

Favour  us  with  a  fight  of  the. 
ineffable  glory  of  the  Father, 


0  H  N.  339. 

and  we  fhall  deem  this  con- 
viction enough. 

9  Jefus  faid  to  him — -Have 

1  been  fo  long  converfant 
among  you  without  your 
knowing  my  original  and  de- 
fccnt  ?  —  Philip,  be  alfured, 
that  he,  who  hath  it^r^.  me, 
hath  in  effect  fcen  the  Father 
— and  how  can  you  folicit  me 
toHiowyou  the  ineffable  glory 
of  the  Father  ? 

10  Are  you  not  convinced 
from  the  whole  of  my  life, 
that  I  and  my  Father  are  in- 
timately united  in  the  mofb 
endearing  and  indiffoluble 
bonds  of  affecStion  and  con- 
cord ?  —  For  the  doctrines  I 
have  delivered  to  you  are 
not  derived  from  mine  own 
peribnal  authority  and  wif- 
dom  —  All  my  precepts  and 
all  my  miracles  have  God  for 
their  author,  and  folely  flow 
from  the  eiricacious  and  per- 
manent influence,  imparted 
to  me  by  the  Deity. 

1 1  If  you  refufe  to  credit 
me  upon  my  own  afiertion  that 
the  Deity  and  myfelf  are  mu- 
tually connedted  by  the  moll 
intimate  ties  of  confent  and 
love  —  yet  fuffer  the  opera- 
tions I  have  performed  to 
work  this  convi6tion  in  you. 

12  Let   me  folemnly  de- 


xAlIuding  to  the  many  apartments  of  the  temple. 
The  verb  is  in  the  firll  Aor'iJ}.     See  Chap.  xvi. 

Z    2 


dare 


340  ^^^  Hiftory 

clare  to  you,  That  every  dif- 
ciple,  who  hath  an  undoubt- 
ed perfuafion  of  the  truth  of 
my  religion,  fliall  not  only  be 
empowered  to  perform  the 
fame  miracles  I  have  perform- 
ed, but  be  enabled,  after  my 
departure,  to  exert  ^  greater 
powers  than  any  1  have  ever 
exhibited. 

13  And  whatever  miracle 
you  implore  the  fupreme  Be- 
ing to  efFedl  by  an  authority 
derived  from  him  ;  if  it  tend 
to  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
confirm.ation  of  the  gofpel,  it 
fliall  be  effefted. 
•  14  "Whenever  you  folicit, 
that  any  operation  may  be 
performed  by  my  authority, 
I  will  empower  you  to  per- 
form it. 

15  If  you  love  me,  fhow 
the  genuinenefs  of  your 
love  by  a  confcientious  re- 
gard to  the  precepts  of  my 
religion. 

16  If  you  maintain  this 
virtuous  fidelity  to  m.e,  I  will 
implore  the  Deity  to  befriend 
you — who  will  from  his  in- 
finite goodnefs  fend  you  an- 
other comforter,  to  continue 
with  you  '  as  long  as  you 
live. 

17  The  heavenly  meflen- 


of  Jesus        Chap.  xiv. 

ger  I  refer  to,  is  the  Holy 
Spirit,  the  teacher  of  truth 
whofe  evidences  a  de- 
praved world  will  not  ad- 
mit, having  no  virtuous  dif- 
pofitions  to  difcern,  and  to 
be  convinced  by,  his  opera- 
tions —  But  you  will  have  a 
grateful  and  confcious  per- 
fuafion  of  his  powerful  in- 
fluence, for  he  will  continue 
with  you,  and  fhed  his  ener- 
gy upon  your  minds. 

18  I  will  not  leave  you  in 
a  deftitute  and  forlorn  con- 
dition— I  will  foon  return  to 
confole  and  affift  you. 

19  For  tho*  in  a  very  fliort 
time  I  fhall  remo/e  from  this 
world,  yet  I  will  not  remiOve 
from  you — for  as  I  rife  to  im- 
mortality, you  fliall  alio  be 
raifed  to  the  fame  g-lorious 
inheritance. 

20  After  my  refurreftion, 
you  will  be  fully  convinced 
that  I  have  been  inverted  with 
the  authority  of  God,  that 
you  are  endowed  with  a  pow- 
er derived  from  me,  and  that 
I  am  the  author  of  thofe  ope- 
rations wliich  you  will  be  en- 
abled to  diiplay. 

21  But  remember  that  the 
fole  tell  and  proof  of  the  ge- 

I  nuinenefs  of  any  perfon's  love 


*•  For  a  proof  of  this  prediftion,  feeA£lsv.  17.  Chap.  xix.  12,  -The 
jApoftlcs  converted  more  people  in  one  day  than  all  the  muaclcs  of  Jtfi:s 
hdd  done. 

«=  This  was  addreflcd  to  the  difciples  only.  F./<  io\>  tttuva.  therefore 
niuft  ncceflarily  have  this  fcnfe. 

to 


Chap,  xiv,  h  ]  ^ 

to  me,  is  a  conflant  obedi- 
ence to  my  inftruftions — He 
who  thus  exprefies  his  love 
to  me,  will  fecure  the  favour 
and  complacency  of  God  — 
and  fuch  a  virtuous  difciple 
(hall  be  the  object  alfo  of  my 
love,  and  I  v/ill  recompenfe 
the  fmcerity  of  his  affection 
to  me  by  making  the  cleareft 
difcovery  of  myfelf  to  him. 
2  2  Here  the  apoftle  Jude 

a  different  perfon  fromi 

Judas  Ifcariot  —  faid  to  him 
—  What  induces  you,  Sir  ! 
to  difcover  yourfelf  to  us,  but 
not  openly  to  the  public  ? 

23  Jefus  faid  to  him  —  If 
a  perfon  love  me,  he  will  ex- 

Erefs  the  finceriry  of  his  love 
y  an  obfervance  of  my  pre- 
cepts —  and  fuch  a  virtuous 
perfon  will  my  Father  love, 
and  we  will  both  conilantly 
aid  and  befriend  him  —  and 
with  fuch  a  mind  we  will 
ever  maintain  a  pleafin 
tercourfe. 

24  He  who  hateth 
difregards  and  contemns  m.y 
dodlrines — tho'  the  dodrines 
you  have  heard  me  deliver 
are  not  mine,  but  God's  who 
fcnt  me. 

25  Thefc  inftruftions  have 
I  freely  dehvered  to  you,  dur- 
ing the  fhort  time  that  is  al- 
lotted me  to  be  perfonally 
prcfent  with  you. 


m- 


me. 


H   N.  341 

26  But  the  Comforter,  the 
Holy  Spirit,-  whom  my  Fa- 
ther will  fend  to  you,  andin- 
veft  with  my  authority,  will 
communicate  to  you  the  moit 
fublime  and  important  truths, 
and  enable  you  diftindiy  and 
clearly  to  underftand  all  the 
inftruftions,  which  I  perfon- 
ally taught  you. 

27  I  bid  you  adieu,  wifh- 
ing  you  all  divine  and  hu- 
man happineis,  not  in  the'* 
unmeaning,  ceremonial  man- 
ner the  world  repeats  this  fa- 

lutation« Be  not  dejedted, 

difpel  your  forrows,  let  not 
the  fad  profpe6t  overwhelm 
you  iri  defpair. 

28  For  I  have  faithfully 
told  you,  that  tho'  I  leave 
you,  I  will  foon  return  to  you 

Did  you  love  me,   you 


would  be  tranfported  with 
joy,  to  think  that  I  am  going 
to  the  ever-blefied  God,  a 
Being  fo  tranfcendently  fupe- 
riour  to  me  in  dignity  and 
greatnefs. 

29  I  have,  at  this  time, 
made  thefe  exprefs  declara- 
tions of  my  fpeedy  removal 
from  you,  in  order  that, 
when  I  am  removed,  they 
may  ferve  as  an  additional 
confirmation  that  I  am  the 
MefTiah. 

30  I  fliall  not  have  an  op- 
portunity of  a  long  converla- 


Bccacfc  his  blelTnig  would  derive  upon  them  every  fobiUntial  felicity. 

Z    3  tiOn 


^42  ^-^^  Hiftory 

tion  with  you for  I  fhall 

foon  be  in  the  hands  of  my 
wicked  perfecutors,  who  yet 
■will  not  be  able  to  find  any 
thing  criminal  in  my  life  and 
conduft. 

31  But  by  means  of  my 
apprehenfion,  my  innocence 
will  "be  publickly  attefted, 
and'  rtiy  drift  conformity, 
throupfhout  the  whole  of  life, 
to  the  will  of  my  father,  will 
be  openly  known  and  acknow-, 
ledgcd — Come,  let  us  imme- 
diately remove  from  this 
place. 

CHAP.   XV. 

I  TV/r  Y  religion  reprefents 
•*-'-*■  a  vine,  of  which  my 
Father  is  the  proprietor. 

2  Every  branch  of  this 
vine,  that  is  unfruitful,  he 
lops  off,  and  every  branch 
that  bears  grapes'^ he  careful- 
ly prunes  and  dreffes,  that  it 
may  produce  fruit  in  more 
copious  abundance. 

3  And  you  have  already 
received  this  culture  by  means 
of  the  doftrincs  in  which  I 
have  inftrucled  you.) 

4  Let  nothing,  therefore, 
feparace  that  union,  by  which 
you  and  I  are  connected  to- 
gether   for  as  the  branch 

cannot  bear,  but  mull:  necef- 
farily  wither  and  die,  when 
fevered  from  the  oriQ-inal  ftock 
— in  like  manner  will  you  be 


of  Jesus  Chap,  xv. 

deprived  of  all  vital  influen- 
ces unlefs  you  continue  indif- 
folubly  united  to  me.X 

5  For  I  am  the  vine,  you 

are  the  branches That 

branch  that  is  firmly  connec- 
ted to  me,  and  imbibes  that 
Q-cnial  nourifliment  which  I 
lupply,  will  produce  truit  m 
the  richeft  abundance — for  if 
all  communication  be  cut  off 
betwixt  us,  you  muft  lan- 
guiih  and  die.^ 

6  If  any  branch  doth  not 
continue  united  to  me,  it 
withers,  is  cut  down,  and 
thrown  out  of  the  vineyard, 
where  it  is  picked  up,  call 
into  the  fire,  and  burnt^ 

7  But  if  you  inleparably 
adhere  to  me,  and  imbibe  the 
inftru6lions  I  have  communi- 
cated to  you,  you  fliall  not 
meet  with  a  repulfe,  what- 
ever miraculous  operation 
you  implore  me  to  effedt  in 
confirmation  of  your  autho- 
rity- i 

8  lou   will  both    honour 

God,  and  approve  yourfelve^ 
my  genuine  difciples,  if,  be- 
ing thus  cultivated,  you  pro- 
duce fruit  in  rich  and  ample 
abundance. 

9  Since  God  hath  deigned 
to  make  you  the  objedts  of 
his  love,  and  I  have  ever  en- 
tertained the  tendereft  affec- 
tion for  you,  do  you  in  re- 
turn maintain  the  lame  invi- 
olate fidelity  and  love  to  me. 

10  I1i** 


Chap.  XV. 


by    J 


10  The  only  way  to  iecure 
the  continuance  of  my  love 
to  you  is  ti^e  conflant  praftice 
oF  my  commandments — as  it 
is  iblcly  by  an  uniform  obe- 
dience to  the  Divine  com- 
mands that  I  have  been  dil- 
tinguiilied  by  the  compla- 
cency and  love  of  my  Fathtjr. 
^j  _  11  I  have  given  you  thcfe 
'inftruclions,  with  the  pleaf- 
ing  hope,  that  I  (hall  reap 
the  moil  confummate  joy  in 
your  obedience,  and  that 
your  joy  might  alfo  be  com- 
pleat,  and  perfe6l. 

12  All  my  advice  to  you 
is  virtually  comprifed  in  this 
one  capital  precept  —  Love 
one  another  with  the  fmce- 
rity,  with  which  I  have  loved 
you. 

,13  It  is  impoffible  there 
jpan  be  an  higher  demonilra- 
tion  of  love,  than  for  a  per- 
fon  chearfully  to  fubmit  to 
death  for  the  fake  of  his 
friends  : 

J  4  yet  fuch  is  the  ardent 
and  exalted  friendihip  I  have 
for  you — provided  you  faith- 
fully difcharge  the  duties  I 
have  enjoined  upon  you. 

J  5  I  call  you  not  fervants 
— the  fervant  is  a  ilranger  to 
the  will  of  his  mailer — but  I 
ertcem  and  honour  you  as 
my  friends^  fince  to  you  I 
have  faithfully  imparted  all 
ihQ     important      difcovcries 


O   H    N.  .343 

v/hich  my  Father  communi- 
cated to  me. 

16  It  Vv'as  not  you  who 
chofe  me  your  aflbciate,  but 
I  felecSled  you  to  be  my  com- 
panions, and  have  commif- 
fjoned  you  to  publifli  my  re- 
ligion in  the  world,  and  col- 
left  a  great  and  glorious  har- 
veft  of  converts  to  it  —  in 
confirmation  of  which,  what- 
ever miraculous  power  you 
earneflly  beg  the  Almighty 
may  be  exerted  by  my  au- 
thority, you  fliall  be  enabled 
to  exert  it. 

1 7  Let  me  repeat  it — All 
the  rules  of  my  religion  are 
fummarily  contained  in  this 
one  precept  —  Love,oiie  an- 
other. .-  l^i'    " 

1 8  If  the  wcrl,d  purfue  you 
with  implacable  hatred,  you 
know  that  I  your  mailer,  be- 
fore you,  was  perfecuted  with 
the  i'ame  unrelenting  rage. 

1 9  Were  your  affections 
and  defires  folely  affixed  to 
this  world,  the  world  v^ould 
carefs   you     as     its   genuine 

children but  fince  your 

principles  and  views  are  ele- 
vated above  this  vain  and 
perifhing  life,  and  I  have  fe- 
paratcd,you  from  lecular  af- 
fairs to  be  my  companions, 
knowing  the  virtuous  difpo- 
fitions  by  which  you  were 
actuated  ;  no  wonder  that 
you    are  held    in  deteftation 

Z  4  by 


by  that  depraved  world, 
\vhcrc  purfuiis  you  condeiriH 
and  abhor. 

20  Remember  the  obfer- 
vation  I  have  lb  often  repeat- 
ed—-Thaif  the  fervar>t  mull 
expeft  no  better  treatment 
than  his  mafter  hath  experi- 
enced-— For  it'  they  have  per- 
fecuted  me,  they  will  perfe- 
cuteyou:  if  they  have ''watch- 
ed my  words  with  an  infidious 
defign  to  pick  out  lb;i:ething 
obnoxious,  tliey  will  alio 
watch  your  words  v/ith  the 
fame  captious  views. 

21  All  thele  iniurics  and 
fufferings  they  will  inflid 
upon  you  for  your  attach- 
ment to  my  cau'fe — for  thele 
perfecutions  v/ill  be  Qccited 
againfl  you  by  thofe  who  are 
entire  flrangers  and  enemies 
to  religion '. 

22  Had  I  never  made  my 
appearance  among  them,  and 
never  publifhed  the  great 
truths  1  was  commifhoned  to 
reveal  to  them,  they  might 
have  pleaded  fomething  in 
extenuation  of  their  guilt ; 
but  now  their  vices  are  to  the 
l.ifl  degree  aggravated  and 
unjurtihable. 

23  Every  one,  who  hateth 
me,  hath  previouUy  conceiv- 


Ike  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap,  xv. 


ed   an   averfion    againft   my 
Father. 

24  Had  not  I  openly  ex- 
hibited before  them  fuch  mi- 
raculous operations  as  no 
other  perfon  ever  performed, 
their  vices,  comparatively, 
would  have  admitted  of  lome 
apology —  but  now  tho*  they 
iiave  been  witneflcs  of  all 
thofe  ailon  idling  powers 
which  1  have  exerted,  yet 
they  have  conceived  the  moil 
bitter  and  violent  refentments 
againft  me,  and  have  offered 
the  moft  impious  affront  to 
that  Being  who  enabled  me 
to  perform  them. 

25  But  I  may  apply  to 
their  inveterate  prejudices 
and  rage  againft  me  the  fol- 
lowing expreiTion  in  their 
facred  books  —  "  Their  ha- 
tred of  me  is  entirely  without 
foundation." 

26  But  when  the  Com- 
forter comes,  the  Holy  Spirit, 
the  teacher  of  truth,  whole 
powerful  effufion  the  Father 
will  grant  you  at  my  folici- 
racion  — he  will  ftamp  my 
doctrines  with  the  mioft  fa- 
cred and  inconteftable  fanc- 
tion. 

27  And  you  alfo,  who  have 
been  my  conftantcompanion^ 


*  T»tf«f  frequently  hath  this  feiifc.     Gcc  Knflichhul  in   loc. 
^  Tbey  bui'j  not  him  'who JeiH  mc,  i.  c.  tiicv  have  no  rc;;aiJ  for  natural 
chgion. 

from 


Chap.  XVI.  hy   Jo 

from  the  comrnencement  of 
my  public  ininiftry,  are  wit- 
neffes,  what  I  have  taught, 
and  how  I  have  lived. 

CHAR  XVI. 
I  T  Have  faithfully  told  you 
-*•  in  what  troubles  you 
will  be  involved,  that  you 
may  not  be  difcou raged  by 
them,  and  be  induccrl  to  apo- 
ftatize  from  my  religion. 

2  You  will  be  excommu- 
nicated and  excluded  from  an 
attendance  on  religious  wor- 
fhip — The  time  is  approach- 
ing, when  you  will  be  held  in 
fuch  univerfal  abhorrence  and 
deteftation,  that  he,  who  im- 
brues his  hands  in  your  blood, 
will  really  believe  that  he  im- 
molates a  moft  acceptable 
victim  to  God. 

3  They  will  purfue  you 
with  this  implacable  rage  and 
fyry,  becaufe  they  hold  in 
equal  contempt  the  truths  of 
natural  religion  with  thofe 
which  I  have  revealed. 

4  I  have  without  referve 
freely  delivered  to  you  this 
prediftion  —  that  when  you 
are  involved  in  thefe  evils, 
you  may  remember  my 
words,  and  be  confirmed  in 
the  tmth  of  my  religion  —  I 
judged  it  not  proper  at  the  firfl 
beginning  of  my  miniftry  to 


i-i  N. 


345 
thele 


dire<5t    your  view    to 
forbidding  profpefts. 

5  But  now  1  faithfully  ex- 
hibit them  before  your  eyes, 
fince  I  am  now  arrived  at  the 
clofe  of  life,  and  am  fo  Ihort- 
ly  to  return  to  my  Father  — 
Yet  none  of  you  afks  me,  To 
what  manfions  I  am  return- 
ing .? 

6  Inftead  of  making  this 
important  enquiry,  you  fuf- 
fer  your  hearts  to  be  over- 
whelmed in  forrow  and  dejec- 
tion at  the  gloomy  profpetSIs 
I  have  opened  unto  you. 

7  But  let  me  declare  with 
the  greateft  fmcerity  and 
faithfulnefs That  my  re- 
moval from  you  is  greatly  for 
your  advantage — for  unlefs  I 
leave  you,  the  Comforter  will 
not  come  to  you — but  ^  when 


I   am 

fend 
fence. 


gone, 
him  to 


I  will  aflu redly 
fupply  my  ab- 


8  When  he  comes,  he 
will  {how  to  the  world,  in  the 
ftrongeft  light,  the  aggrava- 
tion of  their  guilt the  ne- 

cefiity  of  holinefs — and  the 
fentence  that  God  hath  pafled 
upon  them; 

9  He  will  fiiow  the  world 
the  aggravation  of  their  guilt 
—  for  rejeding,  and  di{be- 
lieving  me  to  be  a  divine 
meflenger. 


5  Not,  if  I  go,  implying  a  doubt  whether  he  would  go  at  all, 
verb  is  in  the  firll  aorijl.     See  Chap.  xiv..  3. 


The 


10  He 


34^ 


ne  Hiilory 


10  He  will  fhow  the  world 
the  necefilty  of  holinefs — be- 
caufe  I  go  to  the  Father,  and 
fhall  be  appointed  by  him 
the  governour  and  judge  oi 
all  mankind. 

11  He  will  fhow  men  the 
fentence  that  God  hath  pafled 
upon  the  world — becaule  that 
idolatry,  which  hath  lo  long 
reigned  triumphant,  fhall  be 
dethroned. 

12  1  could  acquaint  you 
with  many  particulars  relat- 
ing to  the  publication  of  my 
religion,  but  I  am  fenfible 
you  nciv  could  not  bear  the 
mention  of  them. 

13  But  when  the  fpirit  of 
truth  comes,  he  will  initiate 
you  into  a  perfcft  knowledge 
of  the  whole  fcheme  and  de- 
fign  of  the  gofpel— for  the 
difcoveries  he  fhall  reveal  to 
jou,  will  not  reft  upon  his 
own  authority,  but  they  will 
be  communicated  to  him  by 
the  Supreme  Father  of  all 
— The  important  truths,  and 
prcdi(5tions  of  future  events, 
which  have  been  imparted  to 
him,  he  will  impart  to  you. 

14  This  divine  perfonwill 
give  a  glorious  atteftation  to 
the  truth  and  excellency  of 
my  religion  —  for  all  the  dic- 
tates  and  counfels   which    I 


of  Jesus  Chap.  xvi. 

fuggeft  to  him,  he  will  freely 
reveal  to  you. 

1 5  The  reafon  of  my  fay- 
ing. That  I  Ihall  fuggeft  to 
him  what  difcoveries  he  fliall 
impart  to  you  is,  becaufe  the 
Father  hath  vefted  me  with 
univerfal  dominion,  and  hath 
conftituted  me  the  governour 
of  all  things. 

16  In^  very  little  time  you 
will ''  not  fee  me  —  in  a  very 
very  little  time  you  will  fee 
me  again  '  —  for  I  am  going 
to  the  Father,  ftiortly  to  re- 
turn. 

17  Here  the  difciples  laid 

one  to  another What  can 

he  mean  by  faying.  In  a  little 
time  he  will  relinquifli  ns, 
and  then  in  a  little  time  he 

will  revifit  us  ? and  what 

doth  he  alio  intend  by  faying, 
That  he  is  going  to  the  Fa- 
ther ? 

18  We  cannot,  they  faid, 
comprehend  the  meaning  of 
this  very  obfcure  language, 
or  affix  any  clear  ideas  to  liis 
words. 

19  Jefus  being  confcious 
that  they  were  very  dehrous 
he  fhould  give  them  an  ex- 
plication of  -the  terms  he 
made  ufe  of,  faid  to  them  — 
My  cxpreflions,  it  fecms, 
have  excited  an  anxious  en- 


''  Namely,  he  would  be  toin  from  them  by  death. 
^  After  his  rei"uire<5'aoii. 


lUiry 


Chap.  xvi.       '  by    J 

quiry  among  you,  what  I 
meant  by  faying.  That  in  a 
very  fhort  time  you  would 
lofe  me,  but  in  a  very  fhort 
time  I  fhould  reappear  among 
vou. 

^iJ'  ^d  Let  me  folemnly  afliire 
y6u,Thattho' at  the  time  when 
J  am  violently  torn  from  you, 
you  will  be  overwhelmed  in 
extreme  forrow  and  deje(51:ion, 
while  the  world  is  elated  with 
the  higheft  tranfport  and  ex- 
ultation— yet  your  grief  and 
defpair  fhall  foon  be  convert- 
ed into  ecftafies  of  joy. 

21  As  a  woman,  the  time 
of  whofe  pregnancy  is  com- 
pleated,  is  in  her  difficult 
hour  affli6led  with  the  moft 
excruciating  pain — yet  imme- 
diately after  her  delivery,  be- 
ing congratulated  on  the  birth 
of  a  fon,  her  heart  bounds 
with  tranfport,  and  all  re- 
membrance  of  her  late   an- 

'guifh  is  totally  fwallowed  up 
and  loft  in  a  flood  of  joy  : 

22  juft  fo  will  you,  who 
are  now  funk  in  forrow  and 
defpondency,  when  I  "*  revifit 
you,  indulge  the  warmeft  e- 
motions  of  the  fublimeft  joy 

^ —  and  the  pure  tranfports, 
with  which  your  hearts  will 
then  be  dilated,  all  the  power 
and  rage  of  the  world  fhall 
never  be  able  to  violate  and 
fliminifh. 


o  H  N.         •  347 

23  You  will  at  that  time 
have  no  occafion  to  require 
from  me  the  folution  of  du- 
bious and  difficult  queftions 
— For  be  affured,  that  what- 
ever affiflance  you  implore 
the  Supreme  Father  to  beftow 
for  the  confirmation  and  pro- 
motion of  my  gofpel,  he  will 
freely  impart  it  to  you. 

24  Hitherto  you  have  re- 
queiled  nothing  of  the  Deity, 
as  being  my  difciples  —  But 
now  prefer  your  petitions  to 
God  in  my  name,  and  you 
fhall  not  be  repulfed,  but  be 
filled  with  compleat  joy  and 
felicity  of  mind. 

25  Many  of  the  difcourfes, 
which  I  have  delivered  to 
you,  have  been  figurative 
and  obfcure — but  the  time  is 
approaching,  when  I  fhall  no 
longer  involve  my  inftrudions 
in  fiction  and  fable,  but  in 
the  mofl  plain  and  undifguif- 
ed  manner  reveal  to  you  all 
the  truths  of  that  fcheme  of 
religion,  which  infinite  wif- 
dom  hath  planned. 

2  6  In  that  day  you  fhall  of- 
fer up  your  fupplications  to 
the  Deity  in  my  name — And 
be  affured,  that  it  is  not 
needful  for  me  to  fupplicate 
the  Father  to  beflow  upon 
you  any  bleffing, 

27  for  you  have  rendered 
yourfelves  the  objects  of  my 


J  After  my  refurre(^iQn. 


Father's 


34^  ^he  Hillory  of  Jesus        Chap.  xvii. 


Father's  love,  bccaiife  you 
have  ever  exprefied  fuch  a 
warm  and  fincere  afFeclion  for 
me,  and  are  convinced  that  I 
was  commilTioned  by  him  to 
inftrudl  the  vt'orld. 

28  By  him  was  I  originally 

delegated In  compliance 

with  his  will  I  del'cended  in- 
to the  world — and  now  again 
am  1  leaving  the  world  and 
returning  to  my  Father. 

29  His  difciples  faid  to 
him — You  now  deliver  your 
J'entiments  plainly  and  undif- 
guifedly,  and  the  language, 
in  which  you  convey  them, 
is  perfe6tly  intelligible. 

30  We  arc  now  convinced 
that  you  are  perfeftly  ac- 
quainted with  every  thing 
that  paficth  in  the  human 
heart — and  that  your  all-com- 
prehenfive  knowledge  antici- 
pates any  '  queftions  that 
might  be  propoled  to  you  — 
This  knowledge  is  a  demon- 
ftration  to  us,  that  you  are 
honoured  with  a  divine  au- 
thority and  commifiion. 

31  Jefus  laid  to  them — 
'  Are  you,  at  length,  convin- 
ced that  I  am  a  divine  mef- 
I'enger  ? 

'^2  Be  afilired,  however, 
that  the  hour  will  very  ipeedi- 
ly  arrive,  when  every  one  of 
you  will  dcfert  me  with  the 


greateft     precipitation,    and 

abandon  me  to  my  fate 

Yet  I  fhall  not  be  abandoned 
and  left  alone,  for  my  Fa- 
ther will  be  prefent  with  me 
to  fupport  and  aid  m.e. 

33  I  have  faithfully  told 
you  thefe  things,  that  you 
might  be  perfectly  fatisficd, 
and  have  no  doubts  at  all  re- 
maining concerning  my  mif- 

fion  and  charafter In  the 

world  you  will  conflidl  with 
many  forrows  and  didrelTes  : 
but  let  not  the  profped  de- 
jccl  you — Remember  that  I 
have  vanquiflied  all  the  diffi- 
culties the  world  oppofed  to 
m.e. 

CHAP.    XVII. 

I  A  FTER  Jefus  had  ut- 
-^^  tered  thefe  words,  he 
devoutly  raifed  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  and  faid  —  Merciful 
Father!  The  hour  is  now  ar- 
rived !  —  Be  gracioufly  pleaf- 
ed  to  honour  thy  fon,  that 
thy  fon  may  honour  thee ! 

2  I  thank  thee  that  thou 
haft  vouchfafed  to  put  into 
his  hands  the  reins  of  univer- 
fal  government,  and  hafc  em- 
powered liim  to  bellow  a 
blelTed  and  happy  immorta- 
lity upon  all  whom  the  love 
of  virtue  hath  engaged  to 
embrace  his  religion. 

3  The  fole  condition  which 


1  He  had  anticipated  and  anfwered  fcveral   q^irilions  they  intended  to 
have  propoied  to  him.     See  Verfc  19. 

entitles 


Chap.  xvii.  hy   J 

entitles  the  virtuous  to  the 
polleffion  of  eternal  life  is  to 
acknowledge  and  obey  thee, 
the  one  iupreme  God,  and 
Jefus  the  Mefliah,  v/hom  thou 
haft  fent. 

4  I  have  anfwered  the  great 
and  glorious  ends  of  thy  mo- 
ral government  on  earth — I 
have  faithfully  difcharged  the 
arduous  province  which  thy 
wifdom  afllgned  me ! 

5  Be  pleafed,  therefore,  O 
God  !  to  reinftate  me  in  that 
dignity  and  glory  which  I  en- 
joyed "'  near  thy  perfon  be- 
fore this  world  was  called  into 
cjiiftence. 

6  I  have  difcovered  thy 
perfections  and  will  to  thofe, 
whom  a  fmcere  reo-ard  to  thee 
and  to  virtue  powerfully  en- 
gaged to  forfake  the  example 
of  a  depraved  world  and  ad- 
here to  me — Previous  to  their 
embracing  my  dodrines  they 

were  thy  votaries Thou 

didll,  therefore,  give  them  to 
me,  and  they  have  faithfully 
obeyed  my  inflrudlions. 

7  And  they  are  now  con- 
vinced, upon  the  ftrongeft 
evidence,  that  all  the  powers 
and  authority,  which  thou 
haft  enabled  me  to  exert  and 
difplay,  are  originally  deriv- 
ed from  thee ! 

8  For  the  dodlrines  thou 
comixjandedft  me  to  teach,   I 


O  H   N.  349 

have  communicated  to  them 
—  Thefe  have  they  freely 
embraced  and  obeyed,  and 
are  in  the  moft  indubitable 
manner  perfuaded  that  I  came 
from  thee,  and  was  commif- 
fioned  by  thee  to  initruft 
mankind. 

9  Thcie  my  feled  and 
faithful  afibciates  1  devoutly 
recommend  to  thy  favour  and 
bleffing  !  — The  world  is  not 
fo  much  the  immediate  ob- 
jeft  of  this  my  fervent  ad- 
drt^fs  to  tliee  —  but  I  prefer 
this  prayer  to  thee,  O  Father! 
humbly  imploring  thee  to  pro- 
tect and  befriend  thofe  vv  hom 
a  fmcere  love  to  thee  and  to 
virtue  excited  to  embrace  my 
religion. 

10  For  all  my  followers  are 
thy  votaries and  thy  vo- 
taries are  my  converts  —  and 
their  confpicuous  virtue  hath 
greatly  redounded  to  my  ho- 
nour. 

1 1  And  now  I  am  going 
to  quit  the  world  and  return 
to  thee — but  thefe  my  belov- 
ed followers  I  leave  in  the 
world,  expofed  to  all  its  for- 
rows  and  viciflitudes  ? — Mer- 
ciful Father  !  preferve  by 
thine  almighty  power  and  in- 
finite goodnefs  thofe,  whom 
a  facred  regard  to  thee  powei- 
fully  induced  to  adhere  to 
me Grant  that  the  fame 


"*  n*ptf  (fiaxKc 


I'.nion, 


35^^ 

union,  which  fubfifts  between 
us,  may  be  cemented  among 
them  ! 

1 2  When  I  was  perfonally 
prefent  with  them  I  kept 
them  inviolably  attached   to 

thy  caufe Of  that  Ibciety, 

which  was  colle(fted  to  me  by 
thine  appointment,  I  have  loft 
only  one  member — a  deprav- 
ed and  incorrigible  creature — 
by  means  of  whole  perfidy 
the  fcripture,  which  predidl- 
ed  my  fuffcrings  and  death, 
will  be  accomplifhed. 

i^  I  am  now,  O  God  ! 
fhortly  to  return  to  thee — and 
I  fay  this  in  their  prefence, 
in  order  that  their  dejefted 
fpirits  may  be  reinvigoraced, 
and  their  breafts  be  filled  with 
confolation. 

14  I  have  inftru6led  them 
in  the  truths  thou  didft  com- 

miflion  me  to  reveal but 

for'embracing  thefe  truths  and 
afTociating  with  me  they  have 
drawn  upon  them  the  irre- 
concileable  hatred  of  the 
world — merely  becaufe  their 
views  and  principles  are  not 
fecular,  but  infinitely  elevat- 
ed above  this  vain  and  tranfi- 
tory  life. 

1 5  I  do  not  beg  that  thou 
wouldcft  remove  them  out  of 

the  world 1  only  implore 

thee,  that  thou  wouldeft,  of 
thine  infinite  meVcy,  preferve 
them  from  apoftaly  and  vice. 

J 6  Their  governing  prin- 


T^he  Hiftoiy  of  Jesus         Chap.  xvii. 


ciples  befpeak  them  not  of 
this  world,  fince  they  regard 
its  prevailing  interefts,  as  I 
have  done,  with  contempt. 

1 7  Poflefs  their  minds  with. 
the  facred  influence  of  true  re- 
ligion— the  dodrines,  which 
thou  appointedft  me  to  deli-  • 
ver  to  the  world,  are  the  on- 
ly fyftem  of  true  religion. 

18  As  thou  didft  originally 
delegate  me  to  be  thy  mef- 
fenger  to  mankind  ;  fo  have.-; 
I    deputed    them  to  be  my; 
melTengers  to  mankind. 

19  And    upon    their    ac- .■ 
count   have  I  devoted  myfelf  : 
fully    to    execute    thy   will, 
that  they  may  be  conlccrated 
to  the  fervice  and  promotion 
of  true  religion.  -j  bt)t£!)^q 

20  But  it  is  not  for  them 
only  that  I  intercede  with  thee 
at  this  time — I  implore  thee 
gracioufiytofuccourand  blefs 
thofe,  who  (hall,  in  future- 
time  by  their  tcftimony,  be 
convinced  of  the  truth  of  my 
religion. 

2 1  I  entreat  thee,  that  all 
my  followers  may  be  formed 
into  one  harmonious  fociety 
by  the  fame  endearing  and 
intimate  union  that  fubfifts 
betwixt  us ! — that  from  their 
focial  uninterrupted  concord 
and  love  the  world  may  be 
convinced  that  thou  haft  fent 
me. 

22  The  fame  glorious  de- 
fio-n   which  thou   ordainedft 

o 

mc 


chap,  xviii.  hy   J 

mc  to   promote   have  I  ap- 
pointed them  to  execute- 


in  order  that  by  the  greatnefs 
of  this  arduous  province,  in 
which  they  are  all  engaged, 
they  might  be  as  infeparably 
united  to  each  other  as  we 
are. 

2  ^  Let  the  fame  union,  that 
fubfiileth  betwixt  us,  cement 
them  to  me  and  to  each  other 
—  that  they  may  all  be  con- 
joined in  one  perfediand  una- 
nimous fociety in  order 

that  the  world  may  be  con- 
vinced that  thou  haft  inverted 
me  with  a  divine  authority, 
and  that  thou  indulgeft  for 
them  the  fame  affeftion  and 
love  with  which  thou  waft 
pleafed  to  diftinguifti  me! 

24  O  merciful  Father!  I 
delire  and  implore  thee  that 
all  thole,  whofe  virtuous  dif- 
pofitions  fliall  lead  them  to 
embrace  my  gofpel  may  be 
introduced  into  thole  happy 
feats  where  I  refide,  to  fhare 
my  felicity,  and  to  fee  that 
illuftrious  dignity  and  honour 
to  which  thou  haft  exalted 
me  —  for  before  this  world 
was  called  into  exiftence,  I 
was  an  objeft  of  thy  love. 

25  O  God,  moft  holy  !  the 
world  is  unacquainted  with 
thy  perfe6lions  and  counfels 
— but  thou  haft  favoured  me 
with  the  cleareft  knowledge 
and  perception  of  them — and 
thefe  my  beloved  companions 

4 


O  H  N.  351 

are   convinced    that   I  am  a 
meflenger  from  thee. 

26  To  them  have  I  reveal- 
ed thy  great  and  glorious  de- 
figns  —  and  will  continue  to 
make  to  them  farther  difco- 
veries  of  thy  v/ill  \  in  order 
that  the  love,  with  which  thou 
haft  diftinguiftied  me,  may 
reign  amongftthem,  and  that 
they  may  be  indiftblubly  unit- 
ed to  me  ! 

CHAP,  xviir. 

I  \X7HEN  Jefus  had  fi- 
^^  niflied  the  foregoing 
addrefs  to  God,  he  crofted  the 
brook  Cedron  —  and  entered 
into  a  garden  accompanied 
with  his  difciplcs. 

2  The  traitor  Judas  was 
well  acquainted  with  this 
place,  as  Jefus  and  his  com- 
panions had  very  often  re- 
forted  hither. 

3  Judas,  therefore,  taking 
with  him  an  armed  body  of 
Roman  foldiers,  and  fome  of- 
ficers that  belonged  to  the 
guards  of  the  high  priefts  and 
Pharifees,  came  dire6lly  to 
this  place,  with  a  great  num- 
ber of  lamps  and  flambeaus. 

4  Jefus,  who  had  a  perfe6l 
knowledge  of  all  the  fuflfer- 
ings  in  which  he  was  going 
to  be  involved,  went  out  of 
the  garden,  and  faid  to  them 
— Who  is  it  vou  are  in  fearch 
of.? 

5  Je^ws 


J52 

5  Jeftis  of  Nazareth,  they 
replied— — Jelus  then  laid  to 
them — I  am  the  perfon — The 
traitor  Judas  was  at  the  head 
of  them. 

^i^v6  Nq  fooner  had  he  told 
them  that  he  was  the  perlbn, 
but  that  moment  they  were 
all  violently  ftruck  back,  and 
-fell  proftrate  on  the  ground. 

7  Jefus  again  afked  them 
— Who  is  it  you  are  in  fearch 
of?  —  They  faid  —  Jefus  of 
Nazareth. 

8  I  am  then,  faid  he,  the 
object  of  your  enquiries — But 
fmce  your  defign  is  to  feizc 
me,  fuffer  thefe  my  compa- 
nions to  depart  unmolefted. 

9  So  that  his  words,  which 
we  have  recited  above,  were 
acccmpliflied  —  "  Of  that  fe- 
ie6l  fociety,  which  was  col- 
leded.  to  me  by  thine  ap- 
pointment, I  have  not  loll; 
one  member." 

10  But  when  Simon  Peter 
now  faw  the  violence  they  in- 
tended againft  his  mafter,  he 
jnftantly  drew  his  fword,  and 
aimed  a  blow  at  one  of  the 
high  prieft's  fervants,  and  cut 
off  his  right  ear  — The  fer- 
vant's  name  was  Malchus. 

;  1 1  Jefus  feeing  this  a(5lion 
of  Pfter,  faid  to  him — Sheath 
thy  fword — Ought  not  I  with 
chearfulnefs  and  compol'ure 
to    fubmit    to    that  dtllinv, 


l^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus      Chap.  xvHL 


which  my  heavenly  Father 
hath  affigned  me ! 

12  Immediately  then  the 
Roman  officer  and  his  cohort, 
attended  by  the  officers  of  the 
Jews,  ruflied  upon  Jefus, 
feized  and  bound  him. 

13  And  they  carried  him 

before  Annas but  he  fent 

him  to  Caiaphas  his  fon-in- 
law,  who  was,  at  that  time, 
high  prieft. 

14  It  was    this  Caiaphas 

who  told  the  Sanhedrim — 

"  That  it  was  highly  expedi- 
ent that  the  life  of  one  indi- 
vidual lliould  be  facrificed  to 
preferve  the  public  welfare, 
rather  than  that  the  whole 
community  fhould  be  fatally 
endangered." 

15  Simon  Peter  andean- 
other  difciple  followed  at 
fome  diftance  this  body  of 
men  that  had  apprehended 
Jefus — and  that  dilciple,  be- 
ing not  unknown  to  the  high 
prieft,  went  in  with  Jefus  in- 
to the  high  prieft's  palace. 

16  But  Peter,  not  daring 
to  enter  in,  ftopptd  at  the 
gate — this  difciple,  therefore, 
with  whom  the  Ifigh  prieft 
v/as  not  unacquainted,  Ipoke 
to  the  maid  fervant,  who  kept 
the  door  ;  and  got  Peter  ad  - 
m  it  ted. 

17  This  fervant  faid  to 
Peter,  after  liis  admiffion  — * 


"  St.  'juhn,  the  Writer  of  this  hiftory. 


Are 


Ch^p.  xviii. 


by  John. 


Are  not  you  one  of  this  man's 
clifciples  ? — -He  aniwered  that 
lit  never  was. 

1 8  The  guards  and  do- 
meftics  of  the  high  prieft  had 
made  a  fire,  as  the  weather 
was  now  very  cold,  and  form- 
ed a  circle  round  it  —  In  this 
company  Peter  mixed,  and 
ilaod  alang  with  ihem  at  the 
fire. 

§ — '\()  When  Jefus  was 
brought  JDefore  the  high  prieft 
he  interrogated  him  about  his 
diiciples,  and  what  do6lrines 
he  had  delivered. 

20  Jefus  faid  to  him — My 
dodrines  I  have  publi(hed  o- 
penly  to  the  world — I  have 
always  delivered  my  inllruc- 
tions  in  the  fynagogue  or  in 
the  temple,  in  places  of  the 
greateft  concourfe— —  I  never 
courted  obfcurity  and  foli- 
tude,  in  which  tolpread  and 
propagate  my  dodlrines. 

21  Why  do  you  interro- 
gate me  concerning  the  na 
tare  of  my  inflruftions  i* 


E^camine  thofe  wiio  were  my 
a^jditors  what  doctrines  I 
pubUclcly  taught — ^they  can 
give  you  a  triie  and  faithful 
ftccount  of  wliac  I  delivered. 

22  Wiien  Jefus  had  faid 
this,  one  of  the  officers  v;ho 
ftcod  by  ftruck  him,  and  laid 
--^Is  this  the  manner  in  which 
you  anfwer  the  high  prieft? 

23  Jefus  turiied  and  faid 
XQ  him If  I  have  violated 

Vol.  I. 


35? 

truth,  make  it  pubjickly 
appear  that  I  have  fo — but  if 
I  have  faid  nothing  but  what 
is  ftridlly  true,  how  unjuft  is 
it  in  you  to  ftrike  iT)e  1 

§ — 24  Annas,  as  I  havf 
mentioned  above,  had  fent 
Jefus  bound  to  Caiphas  the 
high  prieft. 

25  In  whofe  palace,  as 
Peter  was  at  tjie  fire  warming 
himlelf ;  the  company  about 
him  laid  to  him— ^ Are  not  you 
one  of  his  followers  ? — —He 
declared  he  never  was. 

26  After  this,  one  of  the 
high  prieft's  fervajits,  who 
v/as  a  near  relation  to  hinj, 
whofe  ear  Peter  had  ftruck 
off",  faid  to  him  —  Did  not  I 
fee  you  with  him  iii  the  gar- 
den ? 

27  Peter  afierted  in  the 
moil  folemn  terms,  that  he 
was  not  along  with  him  there 
— no  fooner  had  he  pronoun- 
ced the  v/ords,  but  the  cock 
crowed. 

§ — 28  From  the  palace  of 
Caiphas  they  conduifted  Je- 
fus, very  early  the  next  morn- 
ing, to  the  Roman  pr^to- 
rium  —  but  they  the.miclve^ 
entered  not  within  the  pr^eto- 
rium,  for  fear  of  contra6ting 
pcilution,  as  they  were  no\y 
celebrating  the  great  pafchal 
folemnity. 

29  Pilate  being  informed- 

that  the  Jews  were  waiting 

in  a  body,  went  out  to  theni, 

A  a  and 


3 '54 


The  Hlftory  of  Jesus     Chap,  xvili. 


and  iaid- What  are  the 

crimes  you  alledge  againfl" 
this  prifoner  ? 

30  They  faid  to  him 

Had  he  not  been  a  molt  noto- 
rious malefaftor,  we  never 
would  have  brought  him  be- 
fore your  tribunal. 

31  Pilate  laid  to  them — 
Do  you  judge  him  yourlblves, 
and  inflift  what  penalty  your 
law  prefcribes^- The  Jews  re- 
plied— We  are  not  permitted 
to  infli6b  capital  punilhment 
upon  any  one.    .  "t  n  r^  i  > 

32  Herein  wa?  the  prcdic 
tion  of  Jefus  exactly  fulfilled, 
who  exprefsly  told  his  difci- 
ples,  To  what  kind  of  death 
he  v/ould  be  condemned  by 
the  Heathens. 

^^  Pilate  then  v/ent  into 
the  prastorium,  and  ordered 
Jefus  to  attend  him — When 
alone,  the  procurator  faid  to 
him — Do  you  affiime  the  title 
of  King  of  Judaea  ? 

34  Jefus  faid  to  him — Do 
you  afk  me  this  from  your  o-wu 
judgment or  have  you  re- 
ceived information  from  0- 
thers,  that  I  affefted  regal 
honours  ? 

35  Pilate  faid  to  him- — I 
am  a  ftranger  to  the  religious 
cuftoms  and  opinions  of  the 
Jews-— ycJur  own  countrymen 
and  the  high  priells  have  pub- 
lickly  brought  you  before  my 
tribunal -i—— What  haft  thou 


done  to  merit  this  public  im- 
peachment ? 

36  Jefus  faid  to  him — My 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world 
— if  my  kingdom  were  of  th^ 
fame  nature  with  other  earth- 
ly kingdoms;  my  fervants 
would  have  taken  up  arms 
and  fought  to  refcue  me  from 

the  hands  of  my  enemies 

But  mine  is  not  a  fecular 
kmgdom.  ■  S"; 

37  Pilate  faid  to  him 

Are  you  then  no  king  ? 

Yes,  replied  Jefus,  I  am  a 
kins' — for  to  ere6t  a  kingdom 
I  was  called  into  exiftence — 
to  eredt  a  kingdom  I  defcend-^ 
ed  into  this  world — For  I  was 
fent  10  publilh  truth   among 

mankind Every  friend  to 

truth  is  my  willing  and  obe- 
dient fubjed:.  "^ 

38  Pilate  faid  to  him- 
What  do  you  mean  by  truth  ? 
— Having  faid  this,  not  ftay- 
ing  for  an  anfwer,  he  went 
out  to  the  Jews  who  ftood 
waiting,  and  faid  to  them — I 
do  not  rind  any  thing  crimi- 
nal in  this  perfon's  conduct : 

39  As  it  hath  therefore 
been  cuftomary  for  me  at  the 
paflbver  to  releale  any  one 
prifoner  whofe  pardon  you  lb- 
licit — are  you  willing  I  Ihould 
now  acquit  this  pcrlbn  v/hom 
you  call  the  king  of  the 
Jews  ? 

40  At  this  they  all  railed 


Chap.  xix.  fy   ]  o  u  n.  355 

one  general  conf  ufed  clamour,  |  ciferation Crucify  him  ! 

repeating Do  not  releaie 

him Releafe  Barabbas  — 

This  Barabbas  was  a  notori- 
ous robber. 


—  at 
him 


CHAP.   XIX. 

1^ .  P I  L  AT  E  then  ordered 
p-  "*•     Jefus  to  be  Icourged. 

2  After  this  was  inflicted, 
the  Roman  foldiers  compof- 
ing  a  wreath  of  thorns  fixed 
it  on  his  head  for  a  crown, 
and  invefted  him  with  a  pur- 
ple robe. 

3  They  then  approached 
him  with  mock  homage,  cry- 
ing^Hail,  O  thou  illuftrious 
fovereign  of  the  Jews  !  - 
the  fame  time  llriking 
with  their  hands. 

4  After  the  foldiers  had 
offered  him  thefe  wanton  in- 
fults,  Pilate  went  out  a  fe- 
cond  time  to  the  Jews,    and 

faid  to  them 1  bring  this 

perfon  before  you,  and  pub- 
lickly  declare,  that  I  am  per- 
fuaded  of  his  innocence. 

*;i  5  Jcfus  then  came  forward 
upon  the  pavement,  wearing 
the  thorny  crown,  and  array- 
ed in  the  mock  purple  veft 
— Pilate,   turning  to  the  af- 

femblf,   faid Behold  the 

man  ! 

6  But  when  the  high 
priefts  and  their  creatures  faw 
him,  they  pierced  the  air 
with  their  cries,  repeating 
with  the  moll  vehement  vo- 


j  Crucify  him  ! — Pilate  faid  to 
them — If  you  are  determined 
he  fhall  fuffer  capital  pumlli- 
ment,  take  him  and  crucify 
him  yourfelves — But  I  pub- 
lickly  proteft,  That  I  am  per- 
fuaded  he  is  innocent. 

7  The  Jews  then  faid  to 
him — Our  law  adjudges  him 
to  death  for  the  impious  blaf- 
phemy  he  hath  been  guilty 
of,  in  affuming  the  title  of  the 
fon  of  God. 

8  When  Pilate  heard  this^ 
he  was  more  embarrafled-than 
ever,  how  to  ad.  ■: 

9  He  therefore  ordered 
Jefus  to  follow  him  into  the 
prastorium,  and  aflced  him 
the  place  of  his  nativity — But 
Jefus  made  no  reply. 

10  The  procurator  then 
faid  to  him  —  Do  you  refufe 
to  anfwer  my  enquiries  ?  — 
Do  not  you  know  that  the 
ible  power  either  of  con- 
demning or  acquitting  you  is 
lodged  in  me  ? 

1 1  The  power  and  autho- 
rity^  anfwered  Jefus,  which 
you  now  exercife  is,  I  am 
fenfible,  wholly  derived  trom 

the  Emperour for  which 

reafon  the  high  prieft  who  de- 
livered me  into  your  hands, 
and  exerts  every  effort  to  in- 
ftigate-  you  to  pals  the  fcn- 
tence  of  death  upon  me,  is 
more  to  be  blamed  than  you 
are. 

A  a  2  12  This 


35^ 


T^he  Hiftory  of  Jesus         Chap.  xix. 


12  **  This  anfvver  made 
fuch  ail  imprefTion  upon  Pi- 
lace,*  tliat  i^  determined  him 
to 'ende'av%Lir  to  procure  his 
rcIeale-—BLK  the  Jews  on  the 
firft  mention  of  his  intentions, 
raifed  the  mbft  violent  and 
outrageous  clamours,  crying 
out — If  you  acquit  this  man, 
you  for  ever  forfeit  all  regards 
and  obedience  to  the  Emper- 
our — He,  who  ^iTumes  the 
title  of  fovereign,  is  a  rebel 
to  the  Emperour. 

i"3  When  the  procurator 
heai-d  thele  afTertions,  he 
brought  Jclus  out  of  the  prse- 
torium,  and  fat  on  the  tribu- 
nal, which  was  eredted  on  a 
raifed  frage,  paved  with  mar- 
ble  Such  a  ftrufture  is  in 

Hebrew  called  Gahbalha^  in 
Greek.  JJthofiroton. 

14  The  day,  in  which  this 
tranfadlion  happened,  was  the 
Prefarationy  and  it  was  about 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning 
— riiate,  being  fcated,  faid  to 


the  Jews Behold  your  fo- 
vereign ! 

15  But  at  this  they  all  raif--^ 
ed  a  loud  and  vehement  cla- 
mour, fhouting — Drag  him  to 
the  crofs  !  Drag  him  to   the  ' 
crofs !    We  acknowledge  no, 
fovereign  but  Caefar !  ^ 

16  To  their  urgent  impor-, 
tunity  the  procurator  at  lad' 
yielded,  and  paffed  upon  him 
tlic  fcntence  of  cruci6xion — 
I'he  Roman  fokliers  then  took 
him  away. 

I  7  Jcfus  bore  the  crofs  to 
the  place  of  public  execution, 
called  in  Hebrew  Golgotha^ 
wiiich  tran dated  fignifles.  The 
place  ofjlndls. 

18  Here  they  crucified 
him  P  between  two  condem- 
ned malefactors. 

19  Over  his  head  Pilate 
wrote  and  fixed  up  this  in- 
fcription  —  Jesus  of  Naza-* 
reth,    the    king    of    the 
Jews. 

20  As  tlie  place  of  execu- 


°  Fk  rv.r\s  dotJi  not  fignify  from  litis  time,  as  if  Pilais  had  nia«-]e  no  efForts 
before  tha,  t6  f;ive  Jefus.  But  it  lignific';.  Ok  this  iii\minf,  for  this  reafou. 
Fx.  TB7K  i/'n  Tov  Ap/-<»7vioi'  €p<<j7flt  ".  t// o/»  //v.<  "hc  aflos  the  Armenian.  Xenoph. 
Cyrop.  p.  142.  ■E>t  7KTB  ifxovTo  T4  T-T'T'K  :  Upon  this  they  all  followed, 
p.  li5S.  ^.K-THTii  TO.  Tt^n.  J^iiTucrii.  Vpofi  this  hc  giv<:i  them  pledges, 
p.  195»  •  E»  '/8T»  trin'mt  lov  STspor.  L-pon  ibis  he  fenids  another,  p.  198.' 
Hutch,   ... 

P  F.iT5i'9vi/  ya,i  ivriv^'V.  St.  John  hath  been  blamed  for  this  phrafc  as  be- 
ing not  pure  Greek.  Dr.  BcntUv^n  his  propofah  for  puhlifning  a  Grrck 
Tcllament  hath  changed  it  into  ivnub-.v  x.a/ *«  9  •,  for  which  liberty 
he  is  jullly  cenfured  by  Dr.  Midiihtcn-  FiO;i'  uti  i^^-v  is  often  uf^d  by 
the  politeft  writers.  See  Xenophotu  Cyrop.  p.  324..  34.7.  373.  375.  403. 
406.  420.  459.     Edit.  Hutch,  bvo. 


tion 


Chap.  xix.  hy   J 

tion  was  very  near  the  city, 
great  numbers  of  the  Jews 
read  this  inJcription  —  It  was 
written  in  Hebrew,  Greek, 
and  Roman  charafttrs. 

21  With  this  infcription 
the  high  priefts  were  diiguit- 
ed — and  waiting  upon  Pilate, 
they  begged  he  would  alter 
it;  and  not  write  in  dire6l 
terms  that  he  was  the  king 
of  the  Jews,  but  only  that 
he  himfclf  ajfumed  this  title. 

2  2  But  Pilate  peremptorily 

refufcd telling  them  he 

would  not  alter  a  fingle  letter 
of  the  infcription. 

23  The  four  foldiers,  who 
nailed  him  to  the  crofs,  after 
it  was  eredted,  divided  his 
cloaths  into  four  parts,  and 
took  each  a  part  —  but  upon 
examining  his  tunic,  it  was 
excepted  out  of  this  divifion 
— for  it  was  found  to  be  knit 
from  top  to  bottom  without 
a  feam. 

24  Upon  their  perceiving 
this,  they  faid  one  to  another 
— Let  us  by  no  means  tear 
this,  but  let  us  call  lots  for 
it — A  circumftance  limilar  to 
one  which  the  Pfalmift  men- 
tions in  the  following  pafifage 
— "  They  made  a  divifion  of 
my  apparel,  and  call  lots  for 
ir." 


O  H   N.  357 

25  There  ftood  by  the  crofs 
of  Jefus  his  mother,  his  mo- 
ther's fitter  Mary  the  wife  of 
Cleophas  and  Mary  Magda- 
lene. 

26  When  Jefus  faw  his 
mother,  and  ^  that  difciple, 
whom  he  had  ever  diftin-^ 
guifhed  with  his  love,  fland" 
ing  by  him,  he  faid  to  his 
mother — Regard  that  perlbn 
as  your  fon  ! 

27  He  then  faid  to  that 
difciple — And  do  you  regard 
her  as  your  mother !  —  This 
difciple  accordingly  from  that, 
day  took  hertohisown  '  houle, 
and  treated  her  as  a  parent. 

28  After  this  Jefus  know- 
ing that  all  the  circumftances 
that  attended  his  fufferings, 
had  exaflly  correfponded  to 
the  fcripture  predictions,  faid. 
That  he  was  thirfty. 

29  Immediately  upon  this 
the  foldiers  on  duty  took  a 
fpunge,  filled  it  with  vinegar 
from  a  veflel  they  had  there 
with  them,  and  fixing  it  to 
a  ftalk  of  hyflbp,  put  it  to 
his  mouth. 

30  When  Jefus  had  tailed 
the  vinegar,  he  faid  —  The 
prophecies  are  all  accompliih- 

ed His  head  then  funk 

upon    his    bofom,     and    Ije 
breathed  his  laft. 


s  St.  John  the  writer  of  this  hiftor}'. 
«■  Her  hulband  Jofeph  was  now  dead* 

Aa  3 


31  The 


35^  The  Hiftory 

3 1  The  day,  on  which  Je- 
fus  was  crucified,  was,  as  hath 
been  remarked  above,  the 
preparation  — ■  and  the  next 
day  enfuing  being  the  grand 
pafchal  fabbath,  that  this  fa- 
cred  folemnity  might  not  be 
violated  by  the  bodies  of  the 
criminals  hanging  on  their 
crofies,  the  Jews  went  in  a 
body  to  the  procurator,  and 
folicifed  it  as  a  favour,  that 
he  would  give  orders,  that 
their  legs  might  be  broken, 
3nd  their  bodies  taken  down. 
•  52  Pilate  therefore  dif- 
patched  his  orders  to  the  fol- 
diers  on  duty,  who  broke  the 
legsofthofe  two  malefactors, 
who  v^/ere  crucified  along  with 
Jefus. 

33  But  when  they  came  to 
Jefus,  finding  him  already 
dead,  they  thought  it  unne- 
ceflary  to  break  his  legs. 

34  But  one  of  the  loldlers 
pierced  his  fide  with  a  fpcar, 
and  inftantly  there  ifllied  from 
the  Vv'ound  a  mixture  ot  blood 
and  water. 

35  Of  this  fa6t  the  writer 
of  this  hiftory  was  an  eye-wit- 
iiefs,  and  pubHckly  attefts 
its  truth- — And  being  con- 
vinced himfelf  of  the  veracity 
pf  what  he  aflerts,  records  it 
with  no  other  view  but  to  con- 
vince others. 

36  Thefe  two  circum- 
itances,  the  piercing  his  fide, 
l?ut  ppt    breaking   his   legs, 


0/^  J  E  s  u  s        Chap.  xi)c, 

were  fimilar  to  two  others, 
recorded  in  the  following  paf- 
lages  of  fcripture — *'  A  bone 
of  it  fliall  not  be  broken." 

37  "  They  fhall  look  on 
him  whom  they  have  pierced 
with  a  lance.'*  ' 

§ — 38  After  this  Jofeph 
of  Arimathsea,  a  perfon,  who 
was  convinced  that  Jefus  was 
the  Mertlah,  but  dared  not 
publickly  avow  his  fentiments 
for  fear  of  the  refentment  of 
the  Jews,  waited  upon  Pilate, 
and  begged  he  would  give 
him  the  body  of  Jefus — The 
procurator  granting  his  re- 
queil:,  he  went  and  took  it 
down  from  the  crofs. 

39  Nicodemus  alfo,  the 
fame  perfon,  who  formerly 
had  a  private  interview  with 
Jefus  in  the  night,  came  to 
pay  his  pious  refpecl  to  the 
deccafed,  and  brought  with 
him  a  large  quantity  of  myrrh 
and  aloes  mixed,  of  immenfe 
value,  to  embalm  his  body, 

40  Thefe  two  took  down 
the  body  of  Jefus,  and  after 
they  had  wrapped  it  in  the  a- 
romatic  fpices,  they  fwathed 
it  in  linen  rollers,  according 
to  the  Jewifli  riteoffepulture. 

41  Near  to  the  place,  where 
he  was  crucified,  there  was  a 
garden,  and  in  this  g;irden  a 
new  monument,  in  which  no 
corpfe  had  yet  been  depofited. 

42  In  this  tomb,  as  it  lay 

convenient,  and  as  it  was  the 

preparation^ 


Ghap.xx.  6y   J  o  K  ij^ 

preparation,  they  interred  his 


no'T 


CH  A  P.  XX. 


::io 
tt3 


H  E  firft  day  of 
the  week,  very  early 
in  the  morning,  before  the 
darknefs  of  the  night  was 
difpelled,  Mary  Magdalene 
went  to  vifit  the  tomb —  but 
upon  her  approaching  it,  fhe 
found  the  llone,  that  covered 
its  entrance,  removed. 
;ivt2  Struck  with  aftonifh- 
ment  at  this  unexpected  cir- 
cumftance,  Ihe  returned  in 
the  utmoft  precipitation  to 
inform  Simon  Peter  and  '  an- 
other difciple  whom  Jefus  dif- 
tinguifhed  with  his  love  — 
and  in  a  great  fright  told  them 
that  the  body  of  their  mafter 
was  mod  certainly  ftolen  out 
of  the  tomb,  and  depofited 
we  know  not  where. 

3  Alarmed  at  this  account 
Peter  and  the  other  difciples 
immediately  hafted  to  the  mo- 
nument. -^eGH,,--- 

4  They  both  raa  with  all 
the  fpeed  they  could  exert 
-t-  but  the  other  difciple  out- 
ftripped  Peter,  and  arriving 
firil  at  the  fepulchre, 

.  .;5  did  not  enter  into  it,  but 
ftooping  down  faw  the  linen 
rollers  lying  along,  norr'  r, 
civs^i^After  Ibnie   time  Peter 

^d-i  2BV.  •  St.  John. 

A  a  4 


359 

came,  up,  and  going  withia 
the  tomb  faw  alfo  the  rollers 
lying  along, 

7  and  the  napkin,  which 
was  wrapped  round  his  head, 
did  not  lye  adjoining  to  the 
rollers,  but  lay  at  fome  dif- 
tance  from  them,  folded  as 
it  was  at  Hrft. 

8  After  Peter  had  vifited 
the  infide  of  the  tomb,  the 
other  difciple  went  down  — 
and  upon  viewing  every  thing, 
really  believed  that  the  corp.i^ 
was  ftolen  away.  _  ,  ,5 

9  For  they  did  not  as  yet 
underftand  thofe  prophecies 
of  fcripture,  which  exprefsly 
predicl  his  refurreftion  from 
the  dead. 

10  The  two  difciples  being 
convinced  that  the  body  was 
gone,  returned  to  their  own 
homes. 

§ — 1 1  But  Mary  ftill  con- 
tinued at  the  tomb,  ftanding 
on  the  outfide  bathed  in  tears 
— But  in  this  excefs  of  grief. 
Hooping  down  to  view  the  in- 
fide of  the  monument,  •. 

12  fhe  faw  two  angels  in 
white  robes,  fitting  one  at  the 
head,  the  other  at  the  fec^t, 
where  the  body  of  Jefus^had 
lately  been  depofited.j->^^;=,    .. 

1 3  Thefe  heavenly  meflen- 
gers  then  faid  to  her  — •  Wo- 
man !  why  do  you  weep  f  — 
She  faid  to  them  —  becaufe 


fome 


360 


ne  Hiftofy 


fome  perfons  have  flolen  the 
body  of  my  deceafed  lord, 
and  I  know  not  whither  they 
have  conveyed  it.  /  7  r- 

14  When  fne  had  ifnade 
this  reply  Ihe  turned  back 
and  faw  Jcfi-is  Handing  by  her 
« — Ihe  did  not  however  ;know 
that  it  was, him.       ^vbn*)' 

1 5  Jefus  faid  to  her  -~ — 
Woman  !  what  is  the  caufe 
of  your  tears  ?  —  Who  is  it 
yoii  are.  in  fearch  of  ?  —  She 
imagining  him  to  be  the  gar- 
dener, faid — Do,  Sir!  if  it  was 
ydu  who  conveyed  the  corpfe 
away,  tell  me  whither  you 
Riave  removed  it,  that  I  may 
pay  it  its  due  honours. 

16  Jcfus  then  called  her 
by  her  name— — fhe  turned, 
looked  at  him,  knew  him  — 
and  in  a  tranfport  faid  Rab- 
honi !  —  which  tranllated  fig- 
nifies,  My  mnjter ! 

1 7  Jefus  faid  to  her 

You  need  not  embrace  me 
vrith  that  exeefs  of  tender- 
ire^,  as  if  I  fhouid  imnrie- 
diately  quit  you  —  My  con- 
tihuance  with  you,  before  I 
aCcend  to  my  Father,  will  be 
for  fome  time  —  But  do  you 
inftantly  go  to  my  brethren, 
and  tell  them  that  I  (hall 
afcend  to  my  Father  and  their 
Father,  to  my  God  and  their 
God, 


gf  Jtsus  Chap«j<^. 

18  Tranfported  with  jo^ 
Mary  Magdalene  hafted  to 
the  difciples,  and  in  an  ecr 
ftafy  of  rapture  told  them 
that  fhe  had  feen  Jefus — and 
that  he  had  fent  her  to  deli* 
ver  the  above  mefiage. 

§ — 19  In  the  evening  of 
the  fame  day,  which  was  the 
fird  day  of  the  week,  the  dif- 
ciples were  met  together  in  a 
private  apartment,  and  had 
ftrongly  iecured  the  doors  for 
fear  of  the  Jews — Here  while 
they  were  engaged  in  anxious 
deliberation  Jefus  '  entered 
the  room,  and  ifanding  in 
the  midit  of  the  company  fa- 
lutcd  them  in  his  ufual  fi'iend- 
ly  and  familiar  manner. 

20  He  then  fhowed  them 
his  hands,  that  had  been 
pierced  by  the  nails,  and  his 
iide  that  had  been  wounded 
by  the  fpear  ^ —  The  difciples, 
convinced  it  was  their  lord, 
were  filled  with   unutterable 

joy- 

at  Jefus  faluted  them  a* 
gain,  wifliing  them  all  divine 
and  human  happinefs,  and 
telling  them,  that  as  his  Fa- 
ther had  lent  him  to  inftrutt 
the  world,  fo  he  in  like  man*- 
ner  now  commiflioned  and 
appointed  them  to  reform  and 
teach  mankind. 

22  After  he  had  faid  this, 


By  removing  the  bolts  by  his  inira9}jlo\is  power, .   .  „ 

nc 


Chap.  x^.  =^'^ 

he  breathed  upon  them,  and 
faid — Receive  the  effufion  of 
the  holy  Ipirit. 

23  You  fhall  be  endowed 
with  full  power  to  publifli 
the  gofpel,  and  be  qualified 
to  declare  to  men  infallibly 
on  what  terms  their  vices  will 
be  pardoned  or  punifhed. 

§ — 24  But  Thomas  called 
Didymus,  one  of  the  twelve 
difciples,  happened  not  to  be 
one  of  the  company,  when 
Jefus  now  exhibited  himfelf 
to  them. 

25  When  the  other  dif- 
ciples, ^therefore,  faw  Tho- 
mas afterwards,  they  told 
him  that  they  had  feen  their 
lord — but  he  faid  to  them. — 
I  will  never  believe  it,  unlefs 
I  lee  and  teel  in  his  hands  the 
mark  of  the  nails  •,  and  un- 
lefs I  am  convinced  by  feel- 
ing his  fide  that  was  pierced 
by  the  fpear. 

26  Eight  days  after  this, 
the  difciples  being  again  all 
aflembled  together,  and  Tho- 
mas now  one  of  the  company, 
Jefus  by  his  miraculous  pow- 
er "  removing  the  bolts  by 
which  they  had  fattened  the 
doDcs,  came  into  the  midft 


^  J  0  n  mJ  ^^T 


']')sr!fr(! 


361 

of  the  room  among  them, 
and  wiflied  them  all  felicity. 

27   He   then   turned  and 

faid  to  Thomas View  my 

hands — feel  with  thy  finger 
the  fear  of  the  wounds — han- 
dle and  explore  my  fide — Be 
not  incredulous,  be  difpofed 
to  receive  conviction. 

2  8  Thomas  then  cried  out 
in  amazement — my  lord  !  my 
God! 

29  Jefus  faid  to  him- — * 
You  are  convinced,  Thomas, 
of  the  identity  of  my  perfon, 
merely  becaufe  you  have  had 
the  tellimony  of  yourfenfes — 
be  aflured  that  thofe  difcovef 
a  better  difpofition,  who  tho* 
they  have  not  ocular  demon- 
ftration,  yet  are  perfuaded  of 
my  being  a  divine  meflengef 
from  the  evidences  I  have 
produced. 

§—30  And  many  other 
proofs,  befide  thefe  I  have 
recited,  did  Jefus  after  his 
refurre6lion  exhibit  before  all 
his  difciples,  to  convince  them 
of  the  reality  of  his  perfon. 

31  But  thefe  I  have  re- 
corded are  abundantly  fuf- 
ficient  to  convince  men  that 


Jefus 


IS 


the  great  Meffjah, 


;.»n.;  i 


"  Thus  Homer  defcribes  Mercury  ihooting  the  bolts  and  opening  the 
gates  by  ^ua.  exertion  of  his  divine  power.  '  >jI} 


To/a"/  cT'  ip    vTvov  6%€ys  cT/axTop©-  Apyn^ovTHf 
Ef  J^'  ayetyi  U(ta,y.oy.     Iliad,  li  .^45,  446, 


and. 


362  T^he  Hiftory 

and,  in  a  moft  diftinguiflicd 
manner,  the  fon  of  God  — 
and  are  written  with  no  other 
view  but  to  convince  men  of 
the  truth  of  his  religion,  and 
that  being  convinced,  they 
may  obtain  that  blefled  im- 
mortality, which  he  is  autho- 
rized to  beftow. 

CHAP.    XXI. 

I    T  E  S  U  S  afterwards  dif 
^     covered  himlelf  at  the 
fea  of  Tiberias  to  his  difciples 
in  the  following  manner. 

2  Simon  Peter,  Thomas 
called  Didymus,  Nathanael 
of  Cana  in  Galilee,  the  two 
fons  of  Zebedee,  and  two 
more  of  his  difciples,  hap- 
pening to  be  all  together, 

3  Peter  laid  to  them  —  I 
intend  to  follow  my  former 
occupation,  and  "  (hall  now 
diredly  go  a  fifhing  —  The 
reft  of  the  company  faid  to 
him — We  will  then  go  along 
with  you — Accordingly  they 
all  immediately  wenton  board 

a  filhing  vefiel but  that 

night  had  no  fuccefs. 

4  The  next  morning  Jefus 
ftood  on  the  fliore —  the  dif- 
ciples, however,  did  not  know 
it  was  him. 

■5  Jefus  called  to  them  and 
afked  them,  if  they  had  caught 


o/' Jesus        Chap.  xxI:. 

any  thing  —  Nothing  at  all, 
they  replied. 

6  He  then  faid  to  them — : 
Throw  in  the  net  to  the  right 
of  your  boat,  and  you  will 
meet  with  fuccefs — ^They  calt 
the  net  where  he  had  direct- 
ed, but  were  not  able  to  draw 
it  to  land  by  reafon  of  the 
prodigious  number  of  lifiies 
it  inclofed. 

7  The  difciple,  whom 
Jefus  diftinguifhed  with  his 
love,  faid  to  Peter—  It  muft 
be  our  mailer  !  — Peter  hear- 
ing this  immediately  girded 
his  fifher's  coat  about  him, 
and  with  eager  impatience  to 
fee  him  flung  himfelf  into  the 
water  to  ''  walk  to  fiiore. 

8  But  the  reft  of  the  dif- 
ciples, who  were  but  about 
fixty  paces  from  fhore,  ad- 
vanced forward,  tho'  but 
flowly,  as  the  boat  heavily 
dragged  after  it  fuch  a  pro- 
digious quantity  of  fifh. 

9  Upon  their  landing,  they 
faw    a   lire 
broiling   upon   it, 
bread  laid. 

10  Jefus  faid  to  them  — 
Bring  iome  of  the  fillies  you 
have  now  caught. 

1 1  Peter  went  and  dragged 
the  net  to  fhore,  replete  with 
one  hundred  fifty  and  three 
large  fifhes — Yet  tho'  there- 


burning,    a   fifh 
and  fome 


*  He  knew  it  was  fliallow,  and  would  not  wait  the  flow  motion  of  the 
boat,  heavily  dragging  after  it  fuch  a  quantity  of  fiili. 

d.  .  ...  ^^^ 


Chap.  xxi.  by   Jo 

viras.fuch  a  prodigious  num 
ber,  the  net  was  not  broken. 
12  Jefus  faid  to  them 


Come  and  take  fome  refrefh- 

nient- By  this  time  they 

were  all  fo  fully  convinced 
that  it  was  Jefiis,  that  no  one 
now  afked  him  who  he  was. 

13  Jefus  then  took  bread 
and  filh,  and  diftributed  a- 
mong  his  difciples. 

14  This  was  the  third  time 
that  Jefus  diftovered  himfelf, 
after  his  refurredion,  to  his 
difciples  in  a  body. 

15  After  they  had  finifhed 
their  repaft,  Jefus  turned  to 
Peter  and  faid  to  him Si- 
mon !  do  you  love  me  with  a 
more  ftrong  and  intenfe  affec- 
tion than  any  of  this  com- 
pany ?  —  Peter  replied — You 
are  confcious,  Sir!  of  the  fm- 

cerity  of  my  love  to  you 

Jefus  faid  to  him,  Feed  my 
lambs.  "  '',yrt. 

16  Jefus  faid  to  him  a  fe- 
cond  time— ^Simon  !  do  you 
love  me  with  an  affedion  fu- 
periour  to  any  of  thefe  ? — : — 
You  know,  Sir !  he  anfwered, 
the  fervency  of  my  love  for 
you — Jefus  faid  to  him,  Feed 
my  fheep. 

1 7  Jefus  faid  to  him  a  third 
time-  -Simon  !  is  your  love 
for  me  more  fervent  than 
theirs  ? — Peter  by  his  repeat- 
ing the  fame  queftion  three 
times,  thinking  he  queflion- 


HNV  363 

ed  the  fincerity  of  his  regards 
for  him,  was  greatly  affedled 
and  faid  —  I  can  appeal.  Sir ! 
to  your  confcioufnefs  of  the 
human  heart  for  the  ardour 
of  my  love— Jefus  faid  to 
him.  Feed  my  flieep. 

18  Be  allured,  added  he, 
of  the  truth  of  what  I  am  go- 
ing to  declare  to  you — When 
you  was  young,  you  exulted 
in  your  adlivity  and  liberty, 
and  went  unmolefted  where- 
ever  your  inclination  led  you 
— But  when  you  are  old,  this 
your  liberty  will  be  abridged, 
your  hands  be  confined,  and 
you  be  condud:ed  at  the  plea- 
fure  of  another. 

19  In  thefe  words  Jefus 
exprefsly  predidted  and  de- 
fcribed  the  particular  circum- 
ftances  of  that  death,  which 
Peter  was  afterwards  to  fuffer 
for  the  gofpel — When  Jefus 
had  fpoken  this  he  ordered 
Peter  to  follow  him-.  /^wi 

20  Peter  turning  andfeeing 
that  difciple  following  him, 
whom  Jefus  loved  v/ith  a  dif- 
tinguifhed  affection,  and  who, 
at  the  pafchal  fupper,  reclin- 
ed on  his  bofom,  afked  him 
to  difcover  to  him  the  perfon 
who  was  to  betray  him : 

21  Peter  feeing  him,  faid 
to  Jefus — Pleafe,  Sir !  to  in- 
form me  what  future  fortune 
awaits  this  perfon  '^. 

22  Jefus  faid  to  him — Sup- 

pofe 


3^4 


ne  Hiftory  of  Jesus.       Chap.  xxi. 


pofe  it  Is  my  defire  he  fhould 
continue  in  life  *till  the  time 
of  my  ^  coming,  how  doth  it 
concern  you  ? — Do  you  fol- 
low me. 

23  The  words  which  Jefus 
now  fpoke  relative  to  this  dif- 
ciple,  gave  rife  to  an  opinion, 
which  the  other  apoftles 
maintained  —  That  this  dif- 
ciple  would  never  die — Tho' 
Jefus  never  afferted  any  fuch 
thing — He  only  faid,  "  If  it 
was  his  defire  that  this  apcflle 
fhould  continue  in  being  'till 
the  time  of  his  coming,  what 
concern  was  it  to  Peter.'* 

24  The  difciple  who  at- 
tefts  thefe  fads  is  the  writer 


of  this  hiftory — who  is  him- 
felf  convinced  of  the  truth 
and  veracity  of  what  he  hath 
recorded. 

25  But  were  all  the  par- 
ticular miracles,  adVions,  and 
difcourfes  of  Jefus  to  be  mi- 
nutely and  circumftantially 
recorded,  for  there  were  a 
great  many  more  than  thofe 
that  have  been  piiblilhed,  the 
confequence  would  be,  I  am 
perfuaded,  that  the  world 
would  never  ^  receive  and  em- 
brace a  religion,  whofe  hiftory 
was  contained  in  fuch  a  vaft 
number  of  large  volumes  as 
the  life  of  Chriil  would  then 
neceffarily  compofe. 


«  The  deftruftlonof  Jerufalem. 

*  yjopita  frequently  fignines  to  receive,  admit.  "  All  cannot  receime 
this  laying  ■)i^uf\i<xi.  Matth.  xix.  11.  He  that  can  receive  it,  let  him 
receive  it.  O  ,^uva,i^iv@-  yecfuv,  yftofznu.  Matth.  xix.  12.  Receive  us, 
yjupnffcfTi  etixcLi-  2  Cor.  vii.  2.  To  toutov  ctpi<rov  u  /^<ype<  rrpoJ'o^i^.v* 
Such  a  dinner  doth  not  a^mit  treachery.  Plutarch  Lycurg.  p.  86.  Edit. 
Steph.  8vo.  Chriilians  alone  have  recei-ved  \ht  truth.  }Ar>vovi  /«  x^tri- 
ttvovi  rut>  ahn^iiAv  yiyA>DHx.ii'at.  Tbeophilus  ad  Autolycum,  p.  no. 
Paris  1636.  As  man  could  recei-ve  him.  fl<  etv^r^^-vif]^  avrov  '/u^hv 
rS^vvATo.  Iraneus  Grabe  379.  Able  to  receive  the  revelation  of  the  word. 
y«>YA9(X.i>    CI,  Alex.  p.  79.    Paris  1629.  .  -. 


■yiiiiliJO..'' 


[36s     ] 


THE 


:\  ni^DflOD 


ACTS  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 


1 


CHAP.    I. 

N  the  firft  Volume  I 
ve  you,  O  Theo- 
philus,  a  minute  detail  of 
the  miracles  which  Jefus  per- 
formed, and  of  the  dodrines 
which  he  taught. 

2  The  hiftory  of  thefe 
tranfadtions  was  brought 
down  to  the  day  of  his  af- 
fumption  into  heaven,  after 
he  had  jull  delivered  his  laft 
inftruftions  to  thofe  apoftles 
whom  he  had  chofen  by  the 
direftion  of  the  holy  fpirit. 

3  To  thefe  his  feled:  com- 
panions he  frequently,  after 
his  crtuifixion^  exhibited  him- 
{cM  alive — giv^ing  them,  for 
the  fpace  of  forty  days,  the 
ampleft    convidion    of    the 

identity  of  his  perfon 

repeatedly  converfing  with 
them  in  an  open  and  undif- 

guifed  manner and  dif- 

courfmg  to  them  of  the  na- 
ture of  the  McIBah's  king- 
dom. 

4  Being  all  c^lkded   to- 


gether he  charged  them  not 
to  feparate  from  Jerufalem, 
but  to  continue  there  in  a 
body,  and  wait  the  accom- 
plifhment  of  that  divine  pro- 
mife,  of  which  he  had  given 
them  the  ftrongeft  affurances. 

5  Telling  them,  that  John 
baptized  only  with  water,  but 
that  they  would,  in  a  few 
days,  be  baptized. j^i^ the 
holy  fpirit.  y^^vAN   * 

6  The  difciples,  who  were 
now  all  prefent,  then  afked 
him — Sir !  do  you  intend  a-t 
this  time  to  brealc  off  the 
Roman  yoke,  and  to  inveft 
7/r^f/with  univerfal  dominion? 

7  He  anfwered—  It  is  no 
part  of  your  duty  folicitouily 
to  pry  into  thefe  periods  and 
difpenfations,  the  knowledge 
of  which  the  moll  High  hath 
folely  referved  to  himfelf  as 
his  great  prerogative. 

8  Let  it  fuffice  you  to  be 
affured.    That  you  fhall  re- 

;  ceive  the  powerful  effufion  of 
the  holy  fpirit,  and  that  you 
fhall  be  enabled  to  propaga:e 

the 


366 


'The  A€T:S;  offhe  Apostles.        Chapal^ 


the  tranfaflions  of  which  you 
have  been  witnelies,  not  only 
in  Jerufalem,  and  in  ail  Ju- 
daea and  Samaria,  but  to  the 
remot^ft  limits  of  the  world. 
.  9  When  he  had  faid  this, 
they  faw  him  elevated  from 
tlie  €arth — and  a  cloud  inter- 
pofing    conveyed  him    from 


their  fight. 


in- 


10  Ihcir  eyes  bein^ 
tenfely  fixed  on  the  fl<y  after 
his  removal  from  their  view, 
behold  !  two  heavenly  mefien- 
gers  in  an  human  form,  and 
arrayed  in  dazzling  whitenefs, 
fuddenly  prefented  them- 
felves, 

1 1  and  thus  accofted  them 
— O-ye  Galil^eans  !  why  do 
yoq  ,ftand  gazing  on  heaven 
with  fuch  ardent  and  eager 
looks  ?  —  This  Jefus,  whom 
you  have  feen  conveyed  from 
you  into  the  manfions  of  the 
bleffed,  fhall  one  day  defcend 
in  a  manner  fimilar  to  this,  of 
"which  you  have  jull  been 
Ipectators. 

12  When  they  heard  this, 
they  quitted  the  mount  of  O- 
lives,  which  is  very  near  the 
city,  diftant  only  a  fabbath 
day's  journey,  and  returned 
to  Jerufalcm. 

13  The  names  of  the  apof- 
tles,  who  had  now  been  wit- 
nefles  of  the  afcenfion  of  Je- 
fus, are  thcfe  :  Peter,  James, 
John,  Andrew,  Philip,  Tho- 
mas,'    Bartholomew,     Mat- 


thew, James  the  fon  of  Al- 
phaius,  Simon  the  Zealot, 
and  Judas  the  brother  of 
James-  Thcfe,  upon  their 
entrance  into  the  city,  imme- 
diately repaired  to  that  apart- 
ment, in  which  they  had  be- 
fore ufed  to  affemble. 

14  Here  this  fociety  con- 
tinued in  fervent  prayer,  and 
in  the  devout  exercifes  of  re- 
ligion— being  alio  accompa- 
nied by  feveral  pious  women, 
and  by  the  mother  and  rela- 
tions of  Jefus. 

15  The  number  of  perfons 
here  convened  might  amount 
to  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty — In  the  midft  of  thefe 
Peter  ftood  up,  and  thus  ad- 
dreffed  him.felf  to  the  aflem- 
bly; 

16  "  Brethren  !  Such 
dreadful  judgments,  as  Da- 
vid prophetically  denounced 
againft  his  enemies,  mult 
needs  at  laft  overtake  fuch  ^ 
wretch  as  Judas — who  by  an 
a6l  of  the  blacked:  perfidy 
betrayed  our  divine  mailer, 
and  put  himfelf  at  the  head  of 
thofe  who  apprehended  him. 

1 7  This  abandoned  crea- 
ture, you  know,  was  once  a 
member  of  our  fociety,  and 
formerly  obtained  a  fhare  in 
the  facred  ofiice  of  the  apof- 
tolate. 

18  A  field  indeed  was  pur- 
chafed  with  the  hire  or  his 
iniquity — but  this  field' was 

ftained 


Chap.  i.       ^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


?>^7 


ilained    with     the    traitor's  I  tized  him,  to  the  day  of  his 
blood  —  for  in  this  field  he    afluniption  from  us  into  hea- 


hanged  himfelf,  but  falling 
headlong  from  the  tree,  he 
burft  afunder,  and  all  his 
bowels  inftantly  gulhed  out. 

19  -''  (This  dreadful  fate  of 
Judas  was  univerfally  known 

in  the  city fo  univerfally 

known,  that  from  this  cir- 
cumftance,  the  field,  in 
which  this  dire  event  happen- 
ed, was  afterwards  called  in 
the  language  of  the  country, 
Akeldama  — -  which  tranflated 
fignifies  the  bloody  field.) 

20  To  fuch  enormous 
wickednels  I  may  JLiftly  ap- 
ply the  following  paflages  in 
the  book  of  Plalms  —  "  Let 
"  his  habitation  be  defolate, 
"  and  let  no  one,  forever, 
"  fix  his  refidence  in  it'* — 


"  Let  that  office,  with  which 
he  was  invefted,  devolve  up- 
on another." 

21  It  is  highly  necelTary, 
therefore,  that  we  ele<5l  into 
his  place  fome  one  member 
of  this  fociety,  who  hath  been 
an  early  and  conftant  com- 
panion of  our  Lord  Jefus 

22  from  the  time  that  his 
public  miniftry  commenced, 
which  was  when  John  bap- 


ven — one  who  is  able  to  join 
his  teftimony,  to  ours,  of  the 
truth  ofChrift's  refurreftion." 

23  Upon  this  propofal  two 
perfons  were  nominated,  Jo- 
feph  called  Barfabas,  furnam- 
ed  Juftus — and  Matthias. 

24  Upon  thefe  two  being 
prefented  to  xkit  apoflles,  they 
devoutly  preferred  the  fol- 
lowing petition  to  God  — 
"  O  thou,  who  haft  the  moft 
perfedt  knowledge  of  the  hu- 
man heart,  be  pleafed  to  in- 
dicate which  of  thefe  two 
perfons  thine  infinite  wifdom 
judgeth  to  be  moft  fit 

25  to  difcharge  this  moft 
arduous  office,  and  to  fupply 
that  "  facred  place  of  the  apo- 
ftolate,  which  by  the  wicked- 
nefs  of  Judas  is  now  become 
vacant ! 

26  When  they  had  addref- 
fed  to  heaven  this  prayer, 
they  put  the  names  of  thefe 
two  difciples  to  a  ballot  — 
which  being  drawn  out  the 
lot  fell  upon  Matthias — who 
was  accordingly,  by  the  una- 
nimous confent  of  all,  invert- 
ed with  the  rank  and  dignity- 
of  an  apoftle.  '■ 


^  Thefe  are  the  words,  not  of  Peter,  but  of  the  Hifxorlan. 

=  i^(v.;f/oi'  the  reading,  which  the  Alexandrian  MS.  exhibits,  is  un-.' 
doubtedly  genuine.  Ka/  is  the  copulative  between  AaCrt^  and  Trofst-Qiu'*/ 
-—and  {f;roroA>?f  is  put  in  conftiudtion  with  tot9{'. 


CHAP. 


CHAP.   II. 

I  'T^  HIS  company,  ac- 
•*>  cording  to  mutual 
appointment,  were  all  aflem- 
bled  together  on  the  day  of 
Pcntecoft,  which  was  now  ar- 
rived : 

2  When  fuddenly  there 
ifTued  from  the  fky  a  vehe- 
ment Ibund  like  the  loud 
blaft  of  a  violent  rufhingwind, 
■which  broke  over,  and  occu- 
pied, the  whole  houfe,  in 
which  they  were  convened. 

3  They  then  faw  a  flame 
burft  into  the  room,  whofe 
broken  and  divided  particles 
fialhed  over  the  heads  of  the 
apoftles  in  the  form,  as  it 
were,  of  fiery  tongues  ''. 

4  They  were  all  inftanta- 
neoufly  filled  with  the  holy 
fpijit,  and  endowed  v/ith  the 
faculty  of  converling  in  dif 
ferent  languages  according  as 
the  fpirit  di reded  them  to  ufe 
this  fupernatural  gift. 

^r- — J  At  this  time  Jerufa- 
Icm  wa5  crowded  wich  great 
numbers  of  devour  Jews  froni 
rvery  nation  in  rhe  known 
world. 

6  When  the  report,  there- 
fore, of  this  aftonifhing  event 
Vv'as  diffuicd  in  the  city,  vaft 
crowds  immediately   flocked  i 


368  T^i  Acts  of  the  Apostles.       Chap.  iL 

to  the  place — But  when  dif- 
ferent perfons  heard  them 
fluently  fpcak  the  languages 
of  the  refpcdive  countries  in 
which  they  refided, 

7  they  were  filled  with  the 
lafl  aftonifliment  and  furprize, 
and  faid  in  amazement,  one 
to  another. — Are  not  all  thefe 
perfons,  who  converfe  in  fuch 
a  vaft  variety  of  languages, 
illiterate  GalilcTans" ! 

8  How  is  it  therefore  that 
they  have  acquired  fuch  a 
perfect  llvill  in  the  peculiar 
languages  of  the  feverai  coun- 
tries, in  which  we  were 
born ! 

9  Thofe  of  us  who  are 
Parthians,  Medes,  and  Per- 
fia^S;  who  refide  in  Mcfo- 
potamia,  in  Jud?ca,  in  Cap- 
padocia,  and  in  l^ontus,  or 
in  the  proconfyiar  Afia  -' 

10  Who  live  in  Phrygia 
or  Pamphylia,  in  Kgypt,  or 
in  the  country  of  Libya  about 
Cyrene,  Komaiis,  Jews  by 
birth,  or  proielytcs  : 

11  Inhabitants  of  Crete  and 
Arabia— All  of  us  hear  them 
converfe  in  the  difierent  lan- 
guages of  tbefe  ourrefpedive 
countries,  arid  celebrate  the 
wonderful  works  of  God. 

i'Tz  At  an  event  fo  fignal 
and  aftonifning  they  were  in- 


<  l^his  is  V>x.Middhton''&  tranflation. 

•  This  gjit  of  tongues  was  ordained  by  divine  providence  .to  Itc  bcftow- 
fd  at  this  time,  to  convince  thele  people,  who  ca<n«l*o«»  •various  countries, 
that  they  were  endowed  by  a  divim  coinnuffion. 

2  *  .  cxpreflibly 


^Chap.  li.      ne  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 
i^exprelTibly  amazed  and  con- 


founded faying,  one  to  an 
other — How  is  this  to  be  ac- 
counted for !  What  doth  it 
portend  ! 

,  13  But  others  made  the 
prefent  fcene  the  objedt  of 
their  banter  and  ridicule,  and 
faid — This  is  nothing  at  all 
but  the  fumes  of  *"  fweet  wine  !J 

14  Peter  then  with  the  e- 
leven  apoftles  ftood  up,  and 
raifing  his  voice,  thus  addref- 
fed  the  coUefled  multitude — 

."  O  ye  inhabitants  of  Ju- 
Msea  !  and  ye  ftrangers,    who 

^..have  been  induced  by  princi- 
ples of  relio-ion  to  re  fide  in 
this  metropolis  !jLet  me  folF- 
Jicit  your  ferious  attention  to 
the  folemn  and  momentous 
truths  I  fhall  now  deliver. 

15  This  fcene,  of  which 
you  have  been  v/itnefles,  a- 
rifeth   not,    as  Ibme  of  you 

1  have  infinuated,  from  intoxi- 
cation — for  confider,  it  is  yet 
but  ^  nine  o'clock  in  the  mor- 
nino;,  '^, 

16  But  this  great  event, 
which  you  now  fee,  hath 
been  exprefsly  predicted  by 
the  prophet  Joel  in  the  fol- 
lowing paCage  :  '^■^ 


t'-. 


3^9' 

17  "In  the  laft  period  of 
the  Jewifh  difpenfation, 
faith  God,  I  will  pour  the 
gifts  of  my  divine  fpirit, 
in  the  moil  copious  abun- 
dance, upon  perfons  of  all 
nations  indifcriminatcly  — 
To  your  fons  and  to  your 
daughters  I  will  freely  com- 
municate fupernatural  pow- 
ers— your  young  men  ihall 
be  favoured  with  prophe- 
tic vifions,  the  aged  with 
propetic  dreams. 

18  "In  thofe  times  I  will 
impartially  flicd  the  fele6t- 
eft  influences  of  my  fpirit 
upon  perfons  of  both  fcxes, 
in  the  loweft  ftations  and 
conditions  of  life,  without 
diilinftion,  who  fliall  be 
enabled  to  exert  the  moil 
amazing  powers. 

19  "In  thefe  times  I  will 
exhibit  prodigious  omens 
in  the  flcy,  and  inaufpici- 
ous  prodigies  on  the  earth, 
blood,  and  fire,  and  duflcy 
vapours. 

20  "  Pillars  of  fmoak  from 
burning  cities  (liall  fhroud 
the  fun  in  darknefs  and 
make  the  moon  appear  like 
blood — and  then  Ihall  that 


'  yhzvjtm.  Muilum.  T^Zvh.Q-,  eiv  fTo  ■Ivyy,';  Tiptty^nrcu  m  etyyuov, 
yXVKV  J'la.fj.cvit  'TTohuv  ypovov  :  Plutarch  Nat.  Qnsil.  p.  1694.  Edit.  Steph. 
TK'.v-MVi  i^  oivov 'TTiVTi,  ^dibiz;.  Folyfcni  Stratagem,  p.  272.  Edit.  C^Jjk- 
boni  Lug,  1589. 

''  The  Jews  neither  eat  or  drhtk  'till  after  9  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when  the  firft  public  prayers  were  over.  See  Univerfal  Hxftory  Vol.  x. 
p.  618.  8vo. 


Vol.  I. 


B  b 


"  grea: 


T/'t?  Acts  ^,//6t' Apostles.        Chap*  iL 
25  This  grand  event  hath 


3/^ 

'-i:g»Tat  9n.d.menjQQjbl€.!  ck- 
'Sitru^ic?n  .^pliiCvnohrn   h 
-'nai   "But  frpm  thcfe  difp 
^*.:ealan]ities  the  pious-   and 
*' )  ^y^irtuous ;  iliall  pro  vidential- 
tfj  ly.efcape ,''.",   ; 
*  T?  2.1  entreat  you,  O  Ifrael- 
ites,  to  give  a  candid  atten- 
tion  to  -what  I  am  soing   to 
declare — -rThe  late  Jellis  of 
Nazareth,  to  whole  name  you 
are  no  ilrangers,  was  a  pcr- 
ibn,  v.'hom  the  moft  High  en- 
dowed with  the  molt  didin- 
guiflied  powers — and  he  abun- 
dantly evinced  his  divine  com- 
mifllon  among  you  by  per- 
forming thole  amazing  ope- 
rations,   of  which  you  were 
IpeiStators. 

23  This  ilkiftrious  pro- 
phet, whom  the  Deity  in  the 
coLinfcls  of  his  infinite  w'ifdom 
gave  you  from  heaven  to  be 
your  inftru6lor,  you-  perfe- 
cuted,  you  apprehended  as 
a  nialefador,  and,  by  an  acl 

•oi"; vthf a  moft .  atrocious . ,  -and 
complicared  guilt,  ypuicru- 
cJicd  and  njurdered," 

24  This  moll  eminent  per- 
fonage  God  reilored  to  life — 
buriling  by  hisirrcfillibleom- 

:  nipotence.  the  ftrong  bonds 
of  death-r-for  it  was  impofTi- 
ble  that  death  could  have  any 

...pov/ef  >|o-:decain  him  as  its 
captive. 


David  prophetically  ciefcrib- 
ed  in  the  following  pafTage — - 
"  I  am  perluaded  that  the 
"  Supreme  is  my  conftant 
"  guardian  and  protedor — I 
'^  am  at  all  times  furroundcd 
"  byhisprefence — Nohuman 
"  evil  therefore,  fliall  ever 
"  fliake  the  Iblid  foundjiMOji 
^  of  my  happinels.    iflnoDOi 

26  '*  The  pleafing  confci- 
"  oufneisof  this  fills  my  heart 
"  with  grateful  tranlports 
"  and  my  mouth  with  llrains 
"  of  pious  exultations — even 
"  my  body  I  commit  to  the 
"  grave  with  the  pleafing 
"  hope  of  immortality, 

27  "  perfuaded  that  thou 
"  wilt  not  for  a  long  time 
"  confign  me  to  the  manfions 
"  of  the  grave,  or  fufi:er  the 
"  diftinguiflied  object  of  thy 
"  aft'edtions  to  fufter  the  hor- 
"  rors  of  putrefaction. 

28  "  Thou  haft  given  me 
"  the  tranfporting  afliirance 
"■  that  thou  wilt  raife  me  to 
"  thepoireffionofableiredim- 
"  mortality,  and  wilt  advance 
"  me  tothemollconfummatc 
"  and  exalted  felicity." 

29  Brethren  I  permit:  iT>e 
freely  to  declare  t-o  you,  that 
thefe  words,  which  1  have  re* 
cited,  gre  by  no  means, appli- 
cable to  out  great  Patriarch, 


,.„*  Of  Jerufalem  tr/ the  Rninans.  '     '      "        ". 

'•  '^''Thec/jnjfir.ns,  miadi'ol  erf  our  Lord's  word?,  abandoned  the  citv,  be* 

- -fore  it  was  inveikd,    :-^  0.  -;^>i^  till  JiJl;.  ..      .U    J. 


David 


Chap.  ii. 

David — for  he  paid  the  com- 
mon debt  to  nature^ — -his  bo- 
dy was  interred,  and  hath 
long  been  reduced  to  corrup- 
tion and  dull,  and  his  monu- 
ment remains  tothi*?  day. 

^  But  this  illuftrious' mo- 
narch and  propfet  beirtg  con- 
Icious  of  the  inlpOrtant  pro- 
mife,  which  God  was  pleafed 
to  confirm  to  hirniiy  the  mofl 
folemn  fanftion,  That  the 
MefTiah  llwuld  dcfcend  from 

31  atid  bd^'g  "faV-oured 
with  a  clear  view  of  this 
grand  future  event,'  he  pro- 
phetically fpoke  of  the  refur- 
reftion  of  the  MclTiah — ex- 
prefsly  declaring  in  the  words 
I  have  cited,  That  God 
would  not  for  a  long  time 
Gonfign  the  MefTiah  to  the 
manfions  of  the  grave,  or 
permit  his  body  to  fuffef  cor- 
ruption. 

32  This  Jefus,  whom  you 
have  murdered,  God  railed 
from  the  grave — Of  the  truth 
of  this  fa(St  wc  are  all  witnefTcs. 

'33  This  Jefus  being  exalt- 
ed to  the  moil  didinguiflicd 
dignity,  and  having  received 
from  ■  the  Deity  the  gifts  of 
the  holy  fpirir,  which  he  al- 
lured us  he  would  communi- 
catq-after  his'afcer^fion,  hath 
now  fhed'  them  upon  us  in 
that  copious  effufion  6f  which 

youar^witiienesw,  ^.5,^^  .m.  . 
34  David  after  his  deceafe 


TTJe  Acts  of  the  Apostles* 


".it 


did  not  afcend  into  the  celef- 
tial  regions — he,  therefore, 
in  the  following  paflage  un- 
doubtedly refers  to  the  afcm" 
/ton  of  the  Meffiah---"  The 
"  fupreme  Jehovah  fdid  to 
*^  my  Lord,  Sit- thou  at  my 
"  fight  hand,  K  -^vi^  oJ  ,e3^i« 
■  •  35^ "'till I  have'tolany  fub- 
"  fe^Ved  all  thy  foes  to  thy 
■'-''' dominion:^'!  w  03  ,riit>iBssv4" 

0^6  I-et  thefefcre tlie^whole 
race  of  Ifrael  be  confidently 
afliired  of  this,  That  that  Je^ 
fus,'  whom  you  lately  cruci- 
fied, was  the  Mefliah,  and 
that  God  hath  now  conftitut- 
ed  him  univerfal  governour. 

37  Upon  hearing  this  they 
were  pierced  with  the  moft 
cuttinor  ano-uifh  and  remorfe 
ot  confcience — -and  in  great 
diilrefs  of  mind  coming  about 
Peter,    and  about  the  other 

apofiles,   they  cried  out 

Brethren  !   what  ihall  wc  do  1 

38  Repent,  Peter  faid  to 
them,  repent  with  unfeigned 
contrition,  and  let  every  one 
of  you  be  baptized  into  the 
profelTion  that  Jefus  is  the 
true  Mefliah — >If  you  do  this, 
your  former  fins  will  be  ex- 
punged,- arid  you  alfo  will  be 
favoured  with  the  gifts  of  the 
holy  fpiric.  '  • 

59  For  this  fupernatural 
donation,  which  you  now  fee 
conferred  upon  us^  is  alfo  to 
extend  to  you  and  to  yours, 
and  to  all  perfons  in  the  re- 
B  b  2  moteit 


372"  T^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap.  ii. 

motefl  parts  of  the  world, 
who  fhall  comply  with  this 
divine  invitation. 


40  Many  other  arguments 
befides  thefe  he  ftrenuoiifly 
urged,  in  order  to  prevail 
with  them  to  embrace  the 
gofpel — befeeching  them,  in 
the  moft  importunate  terms, 
to  Tave  themfelvcs  from  the 
vices  and  infidelity  of  a  de- 
praved and  profligate  age. 

41  The  affembled  multi- 
tude, with  great  willingnefs 
complied  with  his  admoni- 
tions, and  were  baptized 

That  day  there  were  made  a- 
bout  three  thoufand  converts 
to  the  gofpel. 

42  Thefe  all  firmly  adher- 
ed to  the  doftrine  of  the  A- 
pofties,  maintained  a  mutual 
friendly  intercourfe  with  each 
other,  and  unanimoufly  join- 
ed in  the  fecial  cxercilcs  of 
prayer  and  devotion. 

4^  This  fignal  tranfaclion 
ftruck  every  perfon  with  fo- 
lemn  religious  awe  —  The  a- 
pollles  alio  performed  many 


aftonifhing  miracles  as  proofs, 
of  their  divine  commilTion. 

§ — 44  All,  who  were  now 
convinced  of  the  truth  of  the 
gofpel,  formed  themfelves  in- 
to a  fociety,  and  agreed  to. 
have  a  community  of  goods. 

45  So  that  thole  who  had 
any  eftates,  or  poffeiTions, 
fold  them,  and  put  the  mo- 
ney in  one  common  fund,  for 
the  affiftance  of  fuch  as  were 
in  indigent  circumftances. 

46  Every  day  they  con-, 
ftantly  attended  the  public 
worfliip  of  God  in  the  temple 

and  '  to  their  apartment 


they  again  retired  to  partake 
of  one  common  meal,  where 
the  greatefb  mutual  harmony, 
tranlport,  and  fincerity  reign- 
ed: 

47  with  pious  fervour  ce- 
lebrating the  praifcs  of  God, 
and  hitherto  happy  in  the  fa- 
vour and  efteem  of  the  multi- 
tude— Not  a  day  now  pafied, 
but  the  gofpel  gained  fome 
new  converts. 


^  K017'  Qi^ov  never  fignlfic.s  from  houfe  to  houfe,  but  univerfally,  in  the 
boufe.  See  the  following  inlfances  —  "  H  ffot  a.^i^a,  'ttz'ttoi^t a.i  ka-to, 
wxbi'.  lliady  Z.  56."  IIa^th  t€  ^ctp  KctT*  o//cei',  et  CovKHy  ynya..  So- 
phocles, Antigone,  ver.  1182.  W^@r  7\  «  ti  aai  x.ct7'  oikov  sr/  Tpor- 
<piMi-  PhiloSietes.,  p.  4S3.  ilcta.  cT^  ^iSraj.  Afor^a,  Tot'>i(rci//5i'©-  /.iTA 
ojKov.  Hejiod,  Lib.  iJ.  Ver.  50.  Fc  roA>t  kai'  ciy.cy  rrtpfTrAreiV.  Jn- 
toniusi  IjID.  i.  §.  7.  Kar*  oimv  VTrnpiTctti  p^pHTo/  tc©"  70  cTftCTccc. 
F.lutarchi  Lycurgus  p.  9?.  '^vrvyyavuv  tok  CetfCapaii  kai  7oif  erompoif^ 
x«t'  oiKOv.  Id.  Alexander,  p.  1266.  Edit.  Gr.  Stephani.  Ma/vo/L/.si'©- 
HATA  01X01 — Mojlhus.      Idyll,   iv.  16.     Vtyi\i  KcCl  KAT    aiKOf  TCtTHp.      //.^ 

licdori  ^Ethiopic.  p.  484.    Edit.  Coxnfliclin. 


C  H  Al\ 


Ghap.  iii.      T^hc  Acts  vfthe  Apostles. 


CHAP.  III. 

N  E  day  after  this,  Pe- 
ter and  John  went  to- 
gether to  the  temple  at ""  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon — the 
hour  appointed  for  pubhc 
prayer. 

2  Here  a  mifcrable  help- 
lefs  cripple,  lame  from  his 
birth,  was  every  day  carried, 
and  laid  down  at  one  of  the 
gates,  which  for  its  magnifi- 
cence was  called  the  Beautiful^ 
to  beg  an  alms  of  thofe  who 
attended  divine  worfhip. 

3  This  unhappy  objedt, 
feeing  Peter  and  John  going 
to  enter  the  temple,  fuppli- 
cated  their  charity. 

4  Peter  upon  this  turned, 
and  fixing  his  eyes  intenfely 
upon  this  unfortunate  crea- 
ture, faid  to  him  —  Do  you 
obferve  and  attend  to  us. 

5  This  greatly  engaged 
the  man's  attention,  and  fill- 
ed him  with  pleafing  hopes 
of  their  generofity. 

,    6  Peter  then  faid  to  him 

1  have  neither  filver  nor 

gold  to  bellow — but  the  blef- 
fing  I  have  to  contribute, 
that  I  freely  difpenfe  —  By  a 
power  communicated  to  me 
by  Jefus  of  Nazareth  the  Mef- 


373 

j  fiah,  I  command  you  to  rife 
and  walk  ! 

7  He  then  took  hold  of 
his  right  hand,  and  railed  him 
up — that  inilant  his  legs  and 
feet  were  nerved  with  ftrength. 

8  He  fprung  up  with  ac- 
tivity and  vigour  —  he  ftood- 
and  walked  with  firmnefs  — 
and  went  along  with  them  in- 
to the  temple,  in  a  flood  of 
tumultuous  joy,  bounding, 
leaping,  and  celebrating  the 
goodnefs  of  God  in  ilrains  of 
the  mod  ardent  gratitude. 

9  His  rapturous  geftures 
and  loud  accents  of  praife  to 
God  turned  upon  him  the  at- 
tention of  all  the  people, 
who  were  come  to  worihip. 

10  Thele  were  all  perfe<5l^ 
ly  convinced  that  it  was  him, 
who  ufed  every  day  to  fit  and 
beg  at  the  Beautiful  gate  of 
the  temple — but  how  this  a- 
ftonifhing  alteration  was  ef- 
fe6led,  was  what  filled  them 
with  the  lad  amazement. 

1 1  The  -pripple,  who  was 
now  reftored  to  the  perfed  ufe 
ofhisiimbs,inanecll:afy  of  joy 
embracing  and  folding  his  be- 
nefadtors  m  his  arms,  all  the 
people  colk^fted  about  the 
apoftles  in  Solomon's  portico 
—  ilruck  with  inexpreffible 


^    A/<  TJK    HUsprJ.f    TCeoi   T«    Ka.l    T?p/  «!'I''f  'rvv  (J'OrtC,    H.  T.   A.      *'    TwicC 

every  day,  in  the  morning,  and  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  the  prielh 
officiate  at  the  altar,  and  abandon  not  the  facrifices,  whatever  diltreiTes 
aod  calamities  allail  them."    Jofephi  Ant.  14.  C.  4.  §.  3.     HuJj'on.  ■ 


Bb  3 


aftonirament 


374 


T/je  Acts  of  the'A?6sTLT.s.      Chap.  iii. ' 


aftonifhment-at  fo  wdnder-ful 
a  cure.  '''■'    '^'-'*"'    viJa/yiliL   '* 

12  Petet*  'fdejftg '  thil  J Wfl 
concouri'e  -ot-  -peopk,-  that 
were  now  -gathered  about 
him,  thus  tkidreife-id  thern- — 
"  O  ye  TtViielites !  Why  aioUld 
this' itiirac-le ;  att-racl  lb  -much 
of  youradriiirattbn  !  -Why  do 
you  fix  your  eyes  fo  incenfely 
upon  us,  as  if  we  had  reftored 
this  cripple  to  the  ufe  of  his 
limbs  by  any  perfonal  power 
that  we  could  exert,  or  by 
any  fuperior  holinefs  that  we 
have  attained  !     '^^iJ  to  im- 

13  The  God  of  yo'iir  illuf- 
trious  progenitors  Abraham, 
Ifaacand  Jaeob,  hath  now  dig- 
nified and  glorioufly  exalted 
his  fon  Jefus,  that  divine  pro- 
phet whom  you  perfecuted 
with  implacable  rage,  whom 
you  publickly  difavov/cd  and 
abjured  before  Pilate's  tribu- 
nal, tho'  be  v^as  convinced  of 
his  innocence  and  laboured 
to  acquit  him. 

14  I'his  eminent  prophet, 
whofe  life  was  irreproachable, 
and  diilinguiilied  by  the  moll 
t'Xiik^-  VuM>ii€s,  you  publick- 


;ly -Tchoiijnced,  and  importun- 
ed the  governour  to  gratify 
you  with  *  releafing  even  a 
murderer,,  rather  than  he 
ihould  efcape  with  life. 

15  In  'the  blood  of  the* 
firft  author  and  original  donor 
ot  immortality,  you  have  im- 
brued your  hands But  be 

affured  that  God  railed  this 
glorious  perfonage  from  the 
grave — Of  the  truth  of  this 
fadl  we  arc  all  witnelfes. 

16  It  if?  folely  owing  to  a 
power  derived  from  him  that; 
this  helplefs  cripple,  whom 
you  fee  before  you,  and  whom 
you  have  long  known,  is  now 
reftored  to  perfe<5b  vigour — fc 
]S  folely,  I  repeat  it,  a  firm  per- 
fuafion  that  he  is  the  great  Mef- 
fiah  that  hath  invigorated  his 
limbs  with  -ftrength,  as  yoii' 
are  all  witneifes.  ■         > 

17  And  now.  Brethren,  I< 
Hatter  myfelf  that  vou  and 
your  governours  would  never 
have  wilfully  incurred  fuch 
guilt,  had  you  renlly  known 
the  dignity  of  this  perfon's 
charaiflerand  mifilon.  -':<  i.juji 

18  The  great  Gody^^hown 


— *  Ap^Ji^(f^  {jwiiifies  the  yfr/?  ane^  primm-;  autly>r  of  any  thing.  "  The 
family  of  ///<:i7'(<?^/<^j  appears  to  be  derived  troni  Eri'/ar-a  the  Ion  oi  Ajax-i^ 
\i\\0'\\:i^\x%  original  aut'^nr,  ctoyi^yoi',  Plutarch  JlcibiaJ.  Y>-  349.  EJ.  Gr, 
Siufh'.  Inaftivicy  and  idlends  arc  the/r/w/rry  o;7>/«  nnd  fole  caulc  of  fc- 
flition. ■  apyji-j-w  koli  uovov  a.ni'iv.  Polyhius,  p.  67.  'Xttviw  erfiynyiv 
Kat  cUTioi'.  X.  T.  \.  This  i.i  to  be  regarded  as  the  JirJ^  origin  and  caule, 
p.  126.  Jriiius  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  the  fiyji  author  and  condudpr  of 
the  whole  Tcheme.  </p-/n^oy  x«/  y.tt%ny'iiJ.A<ct'i\M  oAik  £t/ooA)k,  p.  127.- 
Rd.  Hanov.  1619.  yt-^si  /.cmv  A^'i'^^.%  Cio^}ofi*j  'zxtna,  yjLKi'Tn uv . 
^eicyiidiSj  Vcr.  40. 
1    ' V   U   '.:'  ^  ever. 


Chap.  lii.      The  Acts  of 

cv^r,  in  this  manner- \\aiXS\  been 
pleaied  to  accomplifli  thofe 
predidlions  which  he  anoun- 
ced  to -the  world  by  all  the 
antient  prophets,  That  the 
Mefliah  was  to  TufFer,  . 
loJ'P  Let  me,  therefore,  beg 
you  CO  repent  with  unfeigned 
contrition,  and  to  acknow-^ 
ledge  Jefus  to  be  theMeffiah ; 
that  the  heinous  crimes  you 
have  perpetrated  may  forever 
be  blotted  out,  and  that  you 
may  attain  that  eternal  felici- 
ty, which  God  will  beftow. 

20  For  this  illuftrious  per- 
fon  hath  the  Deity  appointed 
to  be  the  judge  of  the  world: 
and  he  will  one  day  defcend 
from  heaven  to  exi^icyte  this 
great  commiflion. 

21  But  'till  this  grand  e- 
vent,  'till  the  final  renovation 
of  all  things,  he  will  continue 
in  the  manfions  of  immortal 
glory — The  intcrefting  tranf- 
(adjions  of  the  period,  in  which 
you  now  live,  hath  God  clear- 
jy  indicated  and  pre-fignified 
by  ali  the  prophets  that  ever 
flouriHied  from  the  firfr  com- 
mencement of  the  Jewifh  dif- 
pcnlation. 

•  22  For  example,  our  great 
Law-giver  gave  our  forefa- 
tbeifs; xJVis  propheuc  admo- 
nition—  "  A  prophet  fimilar 
"  to  me  lliall  the  Lord  your 
^^  Gqdy  in  futurc  tirnej  raife  ' 


/'^^  Apostles. 


Zl^ 


"up  ^mong  you  —  Do  you 

"  diligently  hear  and  obey 
"  all  the  inftrudions  l^e  fl^all 
"  deliver  unto  yQU.  -  fvrrf  ono-» 

23  "  For  be  aifured  that 
"  every  perfgn  who  wilfully 
"  difobeys  the  injun<^tions  of 
"  that  illuftrious  prophet  fhall, 
"  be  involved  in  the  moft  fa-, 
'•',  tal  deftru(ftiori."ooY  xri  uou- 

24  And  not  only  Mefes, 
but  every  prophet  from  Sa- 
muel, in  every  fucceeding 
age,  hath  exprefsly  declar-ed, 
and  minutely  defcribed,  the 
events  of  the  prefent  age,  _'?..■ 

25  You,  Sirs !  are  that 
highly  diftinguilhed  nation, 
to  which  God  lei;|t  his  pro- 
phets — •  You  are  principally 
interefted  \\\  that  covenant 
which  God  folemnly  ratified 
with  pur  pious  anceftors  j  in- 
which  he  alTured  Abraham  in 
particular.  That  by  one  of  his 
defcendents  the  whole  hu- 
man race  fhould  be  blefied 
with  the  moft  fignal  privi- 
leges. 

26  And,  finally,  it  is  to 
You,  that  the  great  God,  who 
hath  railed. . t is  Ion  ffom  the 
dead,  now  vouchiafes  to  make 
t\\Qfirft  offers  of  thegofpel — 
moft  mercifully  defigning  to 
rec:laimryp\4  all-'fjrpm  your 
wickednel.s,  and  :. to  confer: 
upon'  you"  the  mod  ample 
and  -  dillih^uifhibd-  blefTjn^^.  ' 


Bb  4 


C  H  A  P. 


376 


CHAP.    IV. 


7'be  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap,  iv, 

drim,     the   principal  magii- 
traces,  the  fcribes, 

6  The  high  priefts  Annas 
and  Caiaphas,  and  alfo  John 
and  Alexander,  and  all  the 
iiluftrious  perfonages,  who 
were  relations  of  the  ponti- 
fical family,  met  in  public 
council. 

7  When  the  fupreme  court 
was  convened  and  "  feated, 
they  ordered  the  two  prifo- 
ners  before  them,    and  thus 

interrogated  them  Tell 

us    v.'hence  you  derived  the 
miraculous  power  you   have 


I  ^1X7  H  I  L E  they  were 
'  "^  haranguing  the  col- 
Icdled  multitude,  the  priefts, 
the  Sadducees  and  the  ■"  of- 
ficer -of  the  temple  guards 
fu.ddcnly  appeared,  and  ad- 
vanced up  to  fhem  : 

'  2  being  fired  with  extreme 
rage  and"  indignation  at  the 
'apoftles  for  the  liberty  they 
alTunied.of  publickly  inftrud- 
ing  the  people,  and  for  plead- 
ing the  authority  of  Jefus  in 
propagating  the  dodrine  of  a 
future  ftate, 

3  they   immediately  feiz- 

'cd  them  —  dragged  them  a- 

.vj?.y  —-  and  confined  them  in 

the  public  prifon  'till  the  next 

day,  it  being  now  evening. 

4  Many  however  of  the 
audience  were  convinced  that 
they  atted  by  a  divine  com- 
miilion,    and   embraced    the 

Chriftian    religion The 

number  of  thefe  converts  a- 
mounted  to  above  five  thou- 
land. 

§  —  5  The  next  day  an 
afiembly  was  convoked — and 
the  members  of  the  Sanhe- 


lately  exerted — and  what  au- 
thority you  have  for  a6ting  in 
the  manner  you  have  done  ? 

8  To  thefe  queftions  Peter, 
being  inftandy  filled  with  the 
divine  afflatus,  thus  replied 
—  "  Ye  illuftrious  Senators 
and  magifbrates  of  Ifrael ! 

9  Since  we  are  now  thus 
publickly  called  upon  to  in- 
form you,  from  what  fource 
that  beneficial  power  was  de- 
rived, which  was  yefterday 
exerted  on  the  helplels  crip- 
pie  i 

ID    be   it   known   to  this 
auguft  afiembly   and  to  the 


•"From  this  and  feveral  other  pafTages  of  fcripture,  "John  xviii.  iz.- 
A8<  V.  24.  26.  it  appears  that  the  Jews  had  a  body  of  ibldiers  that 
jniarded  the  temple  to  prevent  any  dilTurbance  during  the  minillratiou 
of  fuch  an  immenfe  number  of  priefts  and  levitcs.  Over  thefe  guards 
Dne  perfon  had  the  fupreme  command.  Jofephus  mentions  fuch  an  of- 
ficer. Toi'  ^ocLTwyov  Avavo''.  Ant.  Lib.  20.  §.  2.  AoopwjT'f  <iii  rov 
i.Me'^a.fcv    <rfit.7)iy>ivref.      B.  J.    -.    C.    17.    ^.  2.      HaJjoiu 

"  They  fat  in  a  femicirclc.- 

whole 


Chap.  iv.      The  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  377 

gour,  precludedall  objedions, 
and  effediially  filenced  them. 
15  The  two  priibners,  af- 
ter this,  being  ordered  out  of 
court,    the  members  of  the 


whole  community  of  Ifrael, 
That  this  perfop,  who  now 
ftands  before  you  all,  was 
miraculoufly  reftored  to  per- 
feft  vigour  by  a  power  de- 
rived from  that  Jel'us  of  Na- 
zareth, whom  you  lately  cru- 
cified, but  whom  God  raifed 
from  the  dead. 

1 1  'This  Jefus  is  the  ftone 
which  you  the  pretended 
builders  of  the  church  of 
God  rejected  —  but  who  is 
now  become  the  grand  cor- 
ner ftone  to  unite  and  con- 
folidate  the  divine  edifice. 

1 2  He  is  the  fole  author  of 
that  amazing  operation  that 
hath  been  now  difplayed  — 
To  him  alone  it  is  to  be  a- 
fcribed  —  By  no  other  be- 
ing in  the  whole  univerfe  of 
nature  can  fuch  miraculous 
effects  be  produced." 

13  The  whole  Sanhedrim 
were  aftonifhed  at  the  un- 
daunted fortitude  of  thefe 
two  apoftles — knowing  them 
to  be  perfons,  who  had  been 
deftitute  of  a  Uberal  educa- 
tion, and  in  a  private  and 
obfcure  ftation  of  life — They 
knew,  however,  that  they  had 
been  the  difciples  and  com- 
panions of  Jefus. 

14  The  fight  of  the  man  ° 
too,  who  was  now  before 
them  in  perfed  health  and  vi- 


council   mutually    conferred 
together. 

16  What  conduct,  they 
faid,  ihall  we  obferve  towards 
thefe  men  ?  •—  It  is  abfolutely 
impolTible  for  us  either  to 
ftifle,  or  to  deny,  the  fignal 
miracle  they  have  performed 
upon  this  man — The  whole 
city  is  full  of  it,  and  every 
one  is  convinced  of  its  truth. 

17  Let  us,  in  order  to 
crufii  this  caufe  in  its  infan- 
cy, now  denounce  the  fe- 
vered menaces  againft  thefe 
perfons,  and  ftriftly  prohibit 
them  from  ever  publickly 
propagating  thefe  dodtrines 
for  the  future. 

1 8  Accordingly  they  com- 
manded them  to  be  called  in 
—  and  laid  upon  them  the 
moft  folemn  and  rigid  in- 
jundions  not  to  promulgate, 
any  more,  the  dodrines  of  Je- 
fus i  or  ever  again  attempt  to 
make  converts  to  them. 

19  To  this  threatning,  Pe- 
ter and  John  thus  replied—- 
We  leave  it  to  the  decifion 
of  your  confciences.  Whe- 
ther it  is  fit  we  fliould  obey 
you  or  God. 


•  See  the  Alexand.  MS, 


2  a  For 


The.  Ax  T  s^  of  the  "A  PO;s  tX  k  s  .      Chap.  i\r, 

".  What  is  it  hath  induced 
"  the  Jiivifn  nation  to  pur- 
,"  ■'im  iuckv  iBi^t>itQ^%:,!|?jea^  ■ 
"Aires!    ^      ■'-■^■^    -  b-r-~'r  - 

26  *'  The  governcurs  of 
"  the  earth,  and  the  moil  il- 
"  luftribus  perfonages,  are  all 
"  convened  and  confederated 
"  tO(};ethcr  againft  God  anU, 
"  againil  the  MefTjah  !  " 

27  This  prediction  we 
have  leen  fulfilled — io\- Herod 

with  the  Jews and  Pilaie- 

with  the  Heathens^  confpired, 
p  in  this  city,  againit  thine 
holy  meflenger  Jeftis— -rwhom 
thou  didft  inveft  with  a  di- 
vine com  mifTion, 

28  in  order  to  execute  the 
dcfigns  and  coqnfels  of  thine, 
infinite  \yifdom  :  ji 

2  9  be  pleafed, . O  Godj  fto- 
averc  thq_,^threatnings  that 
have -been  denounced  aoainil 
thy  lervants,  and  kifter  them 
not  to  be  intimidated  by 
them,  from  publifliing  the 
truths  of  thy  gofpel  >\,ith  in- 
trepid fortitude: 

30  grant,  that  the  doc^;; 
trines  they  teach  may  be  far- 
ther fealed  and  confirmed  by 
thy  divine  fanftion — and  that 
by  the  authority  of  thy  holy 
inelfcnger  Jefus,  miraculous 
operations  may  flill  continue, 
to  be  efFe<5ted  !  .  v onbni 

31  After  they  had '  e^hV? 
eluded  thefc  devout  r^qucfls 


378 

20  For  it  isimpofTible  for 
us  to  Rifle  thole  truths,  -ot 
whiciv  we  are  periuad^-d  upon 
the  llrongeil  evidence,-  r-c: 

2  I  I'he  court,  after- ^ddmg 
farther  menaees  and  interdic- 
tions, difmiifed  them^ — -find- 
ing it  a  thing  both  unjuftifi- 
able  and  unpopular  to  inflicft 
any  punifhment  upon  them 
—for  all  the  people  acknow- 
ledged the  hand  of  God  in 
this  miracle,  and  were  ftruck 
with  pious  gratitude  and  ad- 
miration : 

2  2  for  the  perfon  on  whom 
it  was  performed  was  above 
forty  years  old,  and  univcr- 
fally  known. 

§—'2.3  The  two  apoftles, 
being  thus  difmifled,  went 
imniediately  to  tiiejr  fellow 
Chriftians,  and  gave  them  a 
minute  detail  of  :,the_  whole 

tranfaaiooj^oi  -ym-ii^oi  bs^/i, 

24  •  AVhcn  • . the  company 
lud  heard  their  accounti^  they 
ujianimoiifly  offered  the  fol- 
lowing tervent  prayer  to  God 
-r^ "  O  Lord  i  Thou  art  the 
one  fupreme  God,  the  crea- 
tor and  goyernoiicof  u^iyerfal 
nature'!  ■.■■.^.■A.-■:^:r,^(-,  .,.,.,.;  .v'..>_. 

25  We  have  feen  thefe 
words  accomplifhed,  which 
thy  fpirit  directed  David, 
thine  anointed  fon,  to  deliver 
— '""  What  is  it  hath  excited 
"  the  tiijie  of  the  Heathen  I 


p  See  the  MSS 


the 


Chap.iv.      ne  Acrs"-  of  //6^ 'Apostles. 


the  place  in  which  they 
were  aflTcmbled  was  violent- 
ly fhaken — upon  which  there 
enfued  a  fecond  effufion  of 
the  holy  fpirit  upon  all  the 
company  —  and  they  were 
enabled  to  preach  the  Chrif- 
tian  relio-ion  with  undaunted 
freedom. 

§ —  32  The  body  of  thefe 
Chriilian  profeffors  was  ac- 
tuated by  one  mind,  was  in- 
formed by  one  foul  — —  none 
of  them  had  any  private  pro- 
perty ditlin<5t  from  the  reft — 
there  was  an  equal  partition 
and  community  of  interefts 


among  them. 


^^3 3-' The  apoftles  alfo,  with 
firm  and  invincible  refolu- 
tion,  publickly  declared  their 
teftimony   to    the    truth  of 

Chrift's   refurredlion and 

were  all  endowed  with  ample 
atid  diftinguifhed  gifts. 

34  In  this  fociety  there 
i^ita  no  indigent  and  necef- 
fitous  perfon — for  thofe,  who 
had  eftates,  or  houfes,  fold 
them,  and  brought  the  mo- 


ii»i  'Mi  '■yuii. 


379 

ney  accruing  from  the  falc, 
to  the  apoftles, 

'^^  that  being  depofited  in 
a  common  fund,  diftribution'' 
might  be  made  to  individuals 
according  to  thek  rcipeQ:ive 
exigencies,  ''f  MfhYrAfb  ,211011 

36  Among  others,  Jofes,  a 
levite,  a  native  of  Cyprus, 
whom  the  apoftles  firnamed 
Barnabas  -r-r-  which  tranflated 
fignifies  xhtfan  of  exhort attori^ 

2y  having  gn  eftate,  fold 
it,  and  gave'  the  apoftles  the 
money  to  augment  the  com- 
mon fund. 

CHAP.   Yf. 

I  np  W  O  perlbhs  alfo  of 
A     this  fociety,  Ananias 
and  his  wife  Sapphira  fold  aS^ 
eftate  they  had : 

2  but  they  mutually  a- 
greed  to^fecretc  fome  part  of 
the  money — and  accordingly 
delivered  in  the  reji  of  it  to 
the  Apoftles  as  the  ivhole' 
original  fum. 

3  Upon  this,  Peter  faid  to 


^«^  te' 


jt»rj  itiOi 


Tfils'^M  figriifiei  ta  yecrefe^ '  tittercepU     'diduB  '^irt  i)'f 


a  thing  in  a  clandeftine  manner.  ♦'  4rifiides  being  chofen  fuperintendent 
of  the  public  revenues,  ihewed  that  thofe  who  had  been  lately  in  the  fame 
office  had  privately  intercepted  a  great  deal  of  the  money :  tokko.  vivoa- 
CH<T[j.iin<.  Plutarch.  Ariltides,  p.  587.  He  perfuaded  the  populace  not  to 
grant  him  a  triumph,  as  \^&\'mg  privately  intercepted  m\xc\i  of  the  public 
money:  toxka  vivc(JZ>i<TjJ.i\'(»'  Lucul.  949,  Pompey  fliowed  the  magi- 
ftrates  that  Alexander  one  of  his  freedmen  \iz6.  fecreted  i\\Q  money.  Pompeii 
Vita,  p.  1 1 34.  For  he  being  defirous  to  fecrete  to  him/elf  t\\t  greatelt  part 
of  the  money  ;  .^KaTA  ruy  XpM/*«7"tfy  J'efl'f/O'ct^.  Ibid.  p.  1213.  Edit, 
(jr.  Stephani, 

him 


380  T/je  Acts  of  t^e  Apostles.       Chap.  v. 

him — Ananias!  Howcouldeft 
thou  ever  harbour  fuch  dia- 
bolical   wickednefs   in    thine 


in 

heart  as  to  imagine  thou  wert 
able  to  '  cheat  and  deceive 
the  holy  fpirit  by  a<5ting  in 
this  fraudulent  manner ! 

4  When  the  eftate  was  un- 
fold, was  not  the  diipofal  of 
it  in  your  own  power? — anc'i- 
after  you  had  fold  it,  was 
you  not  {till  at  your  liberty  ? 
—What  could  induce  you  to 
aft  fo  wicked  a  part!  You 
have  dared  to  impofe,  not  up- 
on men,  but  upon  the  great 
God  himfclf. 

5  When  Ananias  heard 
thefe  wordsi  he  v^as  inflantl) 
ilruck  down  upon  the  ground 
by  a  divine  power,  and  ex- 
pired  This  (hocking  cir- 

cumftance  filled  all  who  heard 
of  it  with  folemn  and  religi- 
ous awe. 

6  Some  young  perfons, 
then,  v/ho  were  prefent, 
fwathed  the  corpfe  in  linen 
rollers,  according  to  the  Jew- 
ifh  cuflom,  and  carrying  it 
out  of  the  city  interred  it. 


7  About  three  hours  after, 
his  wife,  ignorant  of  her  huf- 
band's  fate,  entered  the  room. 

8.  Peter  diredlly  turned  to 
her  and  faid-       -Tell  me  the 

truth  ■ Did  you  really  fell 

your  eftate  for  juft  the  m.o- 
ney  you  delivered  in  to  us .? — 
She  anfvvercd  in  the  affirmative. 

9  What  could  lead  you  to 
confederate  together  in  con- 
triving fuch  a  fraud  againll 
the  fpirit  of  God,  and  to  hope 
to  cfcape  undete6led  ? — I  hear 
the  found  of  their  feet  at  the 
door  who  have  carried  your 
hufband  to  his  grave,  and  the 
fame  office  they  will  perform 
for  you : 

10  the  words  were  no 
fooner  pronounced,  but  (he 
inftantly  fell  dead  at  his  feet 
— The  young  perfons  came 
in,  found  her  eyes  doled  in 
death,  carried  the  dead  body 
out  of  the  city,  and  depofited 
it  in  the  fame  grave  with  her 
hufband. 

1 1  This  awful  event  (truck 
the  whole  aflembly  with  fo- 
lemn dread,  and  every  one. 


'  "^ivty^i^  Ci  TO  'TTVivfJ-di  70  Aytov.  Thls  ijerh  with  an  accufati've  figf 
nifics  to  helity  impofe  upon  :  "  O  Dcrcyllidas  !  this  perfon  impofes  upon 
you  :  '^ivJ'iT^i  cT?  vjtiQ- .  Xenophon  Hcllcn.  p.  86.  Edit.  8vo.  Gr.  Bafil. 
It  witnefTeth  for  Greece,  that  (he  doth  not  belie  that  power  and  opulence 
Ihe  is  once  faid  to  poffefs  :  uw  •J,?i'«^'"X  thi'  M-you-vw  SLiict.iJ.ii-  Plu- 
tarch Pericles,  p.  288.  Arifiides  did  not  belie  his  former  reputation  :  k;c 
i-\.<:v'y arr 0  mv  J^oEav.  Arijiidcs-,  p.  588.  He  deceived  Tiribaztts  :  T/p/- 
CoL^ov  i-\iV(JATo.  Plutarch  Artaxerx.  p.  1874.  Edit.  Gr.  Steph.  8vo. 
— '^iuJ'ey.Ai  with  a  da/ive  is  to  tell  a  falfehood  /o  a  perj'cn  :  as  in  Ver.  4. 
OvH.  t'ltvau  aiQ^uTQii  aAAst  7«  &io> :  viz.  not  the  helj/pii-it,  but  theya- 
Jirsme  God. 

A  who 


Chap.  V.      T^be  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


381 


who  heard  of  their  tragic 
end. 
•  § — 12  The  Chriflian  con- 
verts, at  this  time,  ufed,  by 
mutual  appointment,  to  meet 
in  Solomon's  portico. 

13  But  to  their  fociety  none 
of  the  infincere  dared  to  join 
themfelves  —  The  Chriftian 
profeffors  were,  at  prelent, 
happy  in  the  efteem  and  re- 
gards of  the  common  people, 

14  a  great  many  perfons, 
of  both  fexes,  being  convin- 
ced of  the  truth  of  the  gofpel, 
and  the  number  of  the  Chrif- 
tians  every  day  -augmenting : 

15  for  by  the  ap9ftles,  ma;- 
ny  fignal  and  aftonifriing  mi- 
racles were  publickly  per- 
formed before  all  the  people 
■  for  inflance,  perfons 
brought  out.  their  fick  and 
difeafed  on  beds  and  couches 
into  the  open  ilreets,  and  if 
even  the  fhadow  of  Peter,  as 
he  walked  along,  didbuton- 
ly  pafs  over  them,  they  were 
inftantly  reftored  to  perfed 
health. 

16  Great  numbers  alfo 
from  the  adjacent  towns  flock- 
ed to  Jerufalem,  bringing 
with  them  their  friends,  who 
were  either  difordered  in 
their  intelleds,    or  laboured 

under  other  difeafes v/ho 

were  all  miraculoufly  cured. 

1 7  Thefe  a61:ions  filled  the 
high  priefl:  and  his  friends, 
who  were  Sadducees,    with 


indigna- 


extreme    rage    and 
tion. 

1 8  Accordingly  they  feiz- 
ed  the  apoflles,  dragged  them 
away,  and  confined  them  in 
the  public  prifon. 

19  But  an  angel  of  the 
Lord,  in  the  night,  opened 
the  prifon  doors — and  bring- 
ing them  out,  thus  accofted 
them  : 

20  Go  you  inftantly  into^ 
the  temple,  and  preach  to- 
the  people  the  dodrine  of 
immortality. 

21  Accordingly,  foon  as 
the  morning  dawned,  they 
repaired  to  the  temple   anS 

taught  the  people In  the 

morning  the  high  prieft  and 
his  friends  convoked  the  ge- 
.neral  aflenibly  and  Senate  of 
.Ifrael— and  difpatched  an  or-- 
|der  to  the  keepers  of  the  jail 
to  bring  the  prifoners.  beibre 
the  court.  •':>^  J4v^  r  .w 

22  But  when  the  officers 
entered  the  prifon,  they" 
found  no  perfon  within  - — 
Accordingly  they  went  into 
court,  and  reported  this  ailo- 
nifhing  circumftance  : 

23  The  doors  of  the  pri- 
fon, they  faid,  we  found  fad 
locked  and  fecured,  and  the 
keepers  on  duty —  but  when- 
vve  entered  the  jail  we  found 
it  empty. 

24  This  account  alarmed 
the  high  prieft,  the  clergy, 
and  the  officer  of  the  temple 

guards 


3S2  Tke  Acts  of  the  Apostles.       Chap.  v. 

guards — -and  greatly  |>€rplex- 1 
ed  and  embarrafled  them  how 
to  account  for  it^  >  X)il£  airt  JU; 


25  In  the  mean  tiirie,  there 
came  a  perfon  into  the  court, 
and  informed  them,  That 
the  men,  whom  they  had  the 
day  before  put  under  confine- 
ment, were  in  the  temple,  pub- 
lickly  inftrudling  the  people. 

26  Upon  hearing  this  the 
officer  went  with  his  compa- 
ny to  the  temple,  and  brought 

them  away but  durft  not 

ule  violence,  for  fear  the 
people  fhould  overwhelm 
them  with  ftones. 

.■•'  2  7  The  foldiers  immedi- 
ately conducted  the  apoftles 
into  the  court,  and  placed 
them  before  the  Sanhedrim-*— 
Whom  the  high  prieft  thus 
addrefled  : 

28  Did  not  we  ftri6lly 
charge  you  on  your  peril  not 
to  propagate  your  doctrines 
— and  yet,  in  contempt  of 
our  authority  you  have  filled 
tlie  whole  city  with  your  priii- 


ciples- 
tery   to 


-and  have  the  effron 
charge  us  with  the 
murder  of  your  leader, 

29  Peter,  and  the  other 
apoftles  replied  —  *■  "  It  is 
our  duty  to  obey  God  rather 
than  man. 

30  The  great  God,  whom 


our  anceftors  worHiipped,- 
hath  railed  that  Jellis  from 
the  dead,  whom  you  cruci- 
fied and  murdered. 

31  This  illuftrious  per- 
fonagje  hath  God  now  exalted 
to  the  moft  diftinc-uiflicd  dio;- 
nity,  and  hath  conftituted 
him  the  lliviour  and  governour 
of  mankind  — ■  hereby  moft 
mercifully  consulting  the  re- 
formation, the  forgivenefs, 
and  the  eternal  falvation  of 
liVael. 

32  Of  the  truth  of  thefe 
important  doflrines  we  here 
are  witnefles — and  their  truth 
the  holy  fpirit  alio  oi  God, 
which  is  ftied  upon  the  obe- 
dient and  well-dil'poicd,  hath 
ftampcd  with  his  fandtion." 

3;5  Thcie  aflertions  inflam- 
ed their  rac^e  and  indignation 
to  fuch  a  degree,  that  they 
immediately  conftilted  toge- 
ther to  put  them  to  death. 

34  In  the  midft  of  thefe 
deliberations  rofe  up  an  illuf- 
trious  fenator,  Gamaliel,  a 
Phariiee,  an  eminent  dodlor 
of  tlie  law,  and  a  perfon  held 
in  univerfal  veneration  —  He 
defircd  that tlie  apoftles  might, 
for  a  few  minutes,  be  ordered 
out  of  court:..  ..^^;v^'  ' -^t-^ 

35  I'his  done,  he  thus  ad- 
drelVed  himfcif  to  the  council 


O  A!tlieriians !  Kays'  the  exc 


afFedlori  ;  but  I  will  obey  God  rather  than  you 
^clKKov  «  v^iv.    Plato's  Apolo^.  p.  90.    Edit.  2d 


client  Socratfs,  t  Idye  yoii  witlt'the  warraeft 

•T?«Jo/a*r  /e  7a.  9s» 
Forller.    Oxojl,     ' 


— ''  I 


Cliap4-V.      T/je  Acts  vf 

-^  "  I  beg,  my  fellow-citi- 
zen?, you  would  be  cautious 
ia  entering  into  any  violent 
meafures  with  wgard  m  tliele 
jjeribns.    -r-n.;--     .  flT 

36  Suffer  me  to  remind 
VOLi  of'  Theudas— You  know 
ibnie  time  ago  this  impoilor 
by  his  arrogant  pretenfions  to 
be  Ibme  extraordinary  perfon, 
colle<^ted  and  attached  to  him 
a  number  of  men,  amounting 
to  about  four  hundred — You 
are  acquainted  with  his  tra- 
gic fate,  how  he  was  flain, 
how  his  men  were  difpexfed, 
and  his  whole  fyltem  diflbly- 
ed  and  brought  to  noticing. 

37  After  him  rofe  '  Judas  the 
Galil^ean-at  the  time  ofrthe  af- 
feirment,  and  alienated  a  very 
confiderable  number  of  per- 
fons  from^  their  allegiance  to 
the  Ronians— 1  need  not  tell 


ti)d  ApqsTle'sV  383 

you  of  his  miferable  end  alfo, 
and  of  the ;  total  difperfion  of 
all  his  afibciates.  .  < 'ruoyju  Qt 
•38  When  I  refle6bbnthe 
fate  of  thefe  two  perfons,  it 
prompts  me  to  advile  you  by 
all  means  not  to  molefb  theie 
people,  but  to  let  them 
enjoy  their  principles  undif- 
turbed  — -  For  be  afTured,  If 
this  fcheme  be  a  mere  humaa 
contrivance,  it  will  dwindle 
and  come  to  nothing  -, 

39  but.  if  it  is  fupported 
on  a  divine  authority,  all  the 
power  you  can  exert,  will 
never  be  able  to  fubverc  it — 
Be  cautious,  therefore,  left 
you  be  found  at  laft  to  have 
oppofed.  tlie.  facred  will  of 
heaven.'*     ,•"     ';'-;•; 

40  He.en^ed,  and  his  ad- 
vice was  received  with  uni.- 
verfal  approbation  -r— Accord- 


's ^(What  St.  X«/f^  here  mentions  concerning  y^'Way  is  coniirrned  by  Jj}' 
fejihus.  "  ^ctJl'^i  J^i  Tw<  l>t(ti/jcK  iTirpoTiviVT©- ,  ycn<  Tii  ef'.vo'  &iv<Csi?, 
iSC  !  Wli'ilc  Phdifus  was  procurator  oi  "Judaa,  one  Theudas,  an  impbftor, 
perruad'<5s  a-^reat  number  of  people  to  take  their  effefts  and  attend  him 
,to  xj^^xixzx  Jordan  :  for  he  publicklj'  declared  himfelf  a  prophet,  faid  he 
coaldslivfdc  the  waters  of.^the  river  by  his  authoritative  mandate,  and 
give  them  all  an  eafy  paifage  over.  By  thefe  afl'ertions  he  led  many  into 
a  dcceptioiT.  '  Fndus  hT)\vever  did  not  permit  them  to  proceed  in  their 
madnef^^'  He  difpatched  a  troop  of  horfe  after  them,  who  falling  unex- 
peded-l;v,,upow  them,  killed  and  took  great  numbers.  Theudas  fell  into 
their  h^nds,' they  cut  oft'  his  head,  and  brought  it  to  Jerufalem.  This 
cveiu  happened  at  the  time  when  Cufpius  Fadus  was  procurator  ofju- 
da-a."     >y;>5/p;// Antiq.  L.  2b.  e.  4.  §1.    Hudfon.  '  >!''"     "^'' 

'  ^y<>/e^hus  oitiiw  mtuxiom  this  perfon's  calling  him,  as  St.  Liih'heih 
doih,  jMdas  the  Galilrcem,  p.  974.  3,  p.  1060.  8.  and  in  one  place  Judas 
(iaulanites.  Antiq.  Lib.  iS.  C.  i.  p.  792.  He  alfo  confirms  our  hif- 
torian's  account  by  exprcfsiy  declaring  that  he  raifed  an  infurreftion  in 
tlie  time  of  the  affujpnent  of  Jiidea,     "  Ia/'«t  t«  T?/3-d''/T(5^   Iti/ct/^'V  okx 

4TJ/^?v),'.    B.  j.  Lib..  7.  p.  1313.     Hudfon. 

ingly 


The  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap.  vi. 

to   the   management  of  this 
fund. 

3  We  therefore  advife  you 
to  the  eledbion  of  feven  per- 
fons  of  unexceptionable  cha- 
rafters,  of  known  abilities, 
and  who  have  been  favoured 
v/ith  the  divine  afflatus,  to 
iuperintend  this  truft. 

4  We  apoftlcs  would  whol- 
ly devote  ourfelves  to  the  ex- 
ercifes  of  devotion,  and  to 
the  publication  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  doftrines." 

5  This  propofal  was  re- 
ceived by  the  alTembly  with 
univerfal  approbation  —  and 
they  immediately  eledled  the 
following  perfons  —  Stephen, 
a  man  of  difting-uifhed  fideli- 
ty,  and  eminently  endowed 
with  the  gifts  of  the  holy 
fpirit,  Philip,  Prochorus,  Ni- 
chanor,  Timon,  Parmenas, 
and  Nicholas  a  native  of  An- 
tioch,  who  had  been  a  pro- 
felyte  to  the  Jewilh  religion. 

6  The  aflembly,  after 
having  made  choice  of  thefe 
perfons,  prefented  them  to 
the  apoflles  —  who  after  re- 
commending them  to  the 
blefling  of  God  by  their 
prayers,  laid  their  hands  up- 
on them. 

7  Chrillianity  now  made  a 
very  great  progrels,  and  its 
converts  in  Jerufalem  were 
now  augmented  to  a  -  very 
confiderable  body  —  A  great 
I  niHnbcr  alfo  of-  the  Jewifti 

clergy 


384 

ingly,  after  they  had  again 
ordered  them  into  court,  had 
fcourged  them,  and  repeat- 
edly charged  them  for  the 
future  not  to  diffeminate  the 
do6lrines  of  Jefus,  they  dil- 
mifled  them. 

41  The  apoftles  went  a- 
way  from  the  Sanhedrim  in 
great  tranfport.  That  they 
were  deemed  worthy  to  fuf- 
fer  thefe  indignities  for  their 
profelTion  of  the  Chriftian 
religion. 

42  And  every  day,  both 
in  the  temple,  and  in  their 
own  apartment,  they  inftruc- 
ted  the  people,  and  proclaim- 
ed the  joyful  news  that  Jefus 
was  the  Mefliah.- 

CHAP.   VI. 

I  T  N  the  mean  time,  while 
■*■  the  number  of  converts 
to  Chriftianity  was  greatly 
augmenting,  the  Hellenijlic 
Jews  complained  of  the  He- 
brews for  negledin";  their  ne- 
ceflitous  widows  in  the  daily 
diftributions  of  the  charitable 
fund. 

2  The  twelve  apoftles  upon 
this  convening  the  whole  lo- 
ciety  of  the  Chriftians,  thus 
addrefied  them — *'  Brethren! 
It  is  highly  improper  that  the 
important  office,  in  which  we 
apoftles  are  engaged  of  pro- 
mulgating the  gofpel,  fliould 
be  interrupted  by  an  attention 


Chap;  vii.     T^he  Acts  of 

clergy  were  convinced  of  its 
truth  and  embraced  it. 

§ — S  In  the  mean  time, 
Stephen  being  endowed  with 
diftinguifhed  '  powers,  pub- 
lickly  performed,  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  vaft  multitudes,  ma- 
ny great  and  aftonifhing  mi- 
racles. 

9  Upon  this,  feveral  foreign 
Jews  from  "  Libertum,  Cy- 
rene,  Alexandria,  Cilicia, 
and  Afia  minor,  entered 
into  a  public  difpute  with 
him. 

10  But  thefe  adverfaries 
were  baffled  and  confounded 
by  that  fuperior  wifdom  and 
thofe  diftinguifhed  fpiritual 
gifts,  which  he  polTelTed. 

1 1  Exafperated  at  his  vic- 
tory, they  went  and  fuborned 
perfons  to  fwear  that  they 
had  heard  him  fpeak  blafphe- 
my  againft  Mofes  and  againft 
God. 

12  They  alfo  inflamed  the 
populace,  the  magiftrates, 
and  the  fcribcs  againtl  him — • 
They  then  feized  him,  drag- 


fbe  Apostles*  385 

ged  him  away,   and  brought 
him  before  the  Sanhedrim. 

13  Here  the  falfe  witnef- 
fes,  whom  they  had  procured, 
ftood  up,  and  faid — This  per- 
fon  is  continually  utterinor 
the  moft  reproachful  and  in- 
vidious expremons  both  a- 
gainft  this  '*'  facred  place,  and 
againft  the  law  of  Mofes. 

14  We  have  heard  him  af- 
fert.  That  this  Jefus  of  Na- 
zareth would  reduce  this 
grand  and  facred  ftruclure  to 
a  heap  of  ruins,  and  abrogate 
all  thofe  religious  inftitutions, 
which  our  illuftrious  lawgiver 
hath  tranfmitted  to  us. 

15  An  extraordinary  radi- 
ance, which  was  nov/  obferv- 
ed  to  dart  from  Stephen's 
countenance,  attracled  the 
eyes  of  the  whole  Sanhedrim 
upon  him,  as  if  he  had  been 
an  angel  deputed  from  God. 

Chap.  vii.  i  The  high 
prieft  then  turned  to  him  and 
faid What  have  yoii  to  of- 
fer in  vindication  of  yourfelf 


*  Xrfp/T^,  and  not  ti7?6i^,  is  the  true  reading.     See  Dr.  Mi/L 

"  Libcrtmn  was  a  city  and  diftrift  in  Cjrei:},  See  Dr.  Lardker's 
Appendix  to  his  account  of  demoniacs. 

*  Both  Philo  and  Jnf.pbus  are  replete  witli  inftances  of  the  prodigious 
veneration  the  Jevjs  had  for  their  temple.  The  following  pafHige  lu'Phuo 
is  remarkable.  "  '^.v  avti  rrnvrm  atrnfM^!/.,  Sec.  One  thing  inltead  of  all 
others  we  defire,  that  no  innovations  be  introduced  into  the  temple, 
but  that  it  may  be  preferved  fuch  as  we  received  it  from  our  progenitors. 
If  all  our  entreaties  cannot  obtain  this,  we  freely  deli\er  up  ourielves  to 


delbudion,  that  we  may  not  live  to  i 
death."     FL-ilo  de  kg.  p.  1025.   E. 

YoL.  I.  C  c 


u  calaa-iiiv  more  dreadful  than 


againft 


6 


86 


T/je  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap,  viii 


againft  the  crimes,   that  are 
now  alledged  againft  you. 

2  Stephen  then  thus  ad- 
dreffed  himfelf  to  the  aiTemb- 
ly  —  "  Brethren  and  fathers! 
1  beg  you  would  hear  me 
with  attention  and  candour — 
While  our  great  progenitor 
Abraham  lived  in  Melbpota- 
mia,  before  his  refidence  in 
Gharran,  the  Supreme  and 
ever-bleffed  Jehovah  appear- 

3  and  thus  fpoke  to  him — 
Quit  thy  native  country,  and 
all  thy  relatives,  and  remove 
to  a  region  that  I  will  point 
out  to  thee. 

4  Immediately,  in  compli- 
ance with  the  divine  com- 
mand, he  relinquifhed  the 
country  of  the  ChakLTans  and 

refidirrl  in  Charran From 

this  place  too,  after  his  fa- 
th'-r's  deceafe,  he  removed, 
in  obedience  to  the  divine  di- 
reftion,  into  this  countr, 
which  you  now  inhabit 

5  God,  however,  did  not 
give  him  any  prefent  pofTef- 
fion  in  it,  not  even  fo  much 
as  a  foot  of  land— 


;' 


ne  oni 


y 

promifed  that  he  would  give 
it  to  his  defcendents,  and 
this  at  a  time  when  Abraham 
had  no  profpedl  of  ever  being 
blelfed  Vv^ith  children. 

6  To  him  God  prefignifi- 
cd  the  future  fate  of  Jiis  de- 
fcendents———Thy  pofterity 
'h:Ul  iojourn  in  a  foreign  coun- 


try, where  they  fliall  endure 
all  the  evils  of  fervitude,  and 
a  feries  of  the  moft  cruel  fuf-* 
ferings  for  the  fpace  of  four 
hundred  years, 

7  But  upon  that  nation, 
which  Avail  opprefs  them  with 
this  inlblence  and  inhumani- 
ty, I  will  inflift  many  dire  ca- 
lamities— after  this  they  fhall 
be  removed  and  ferve  me  in 
the  country,  in  which  thou 
now  refideft. 

8  In  iolemn  ratification  of 
the  truth  of  this  predidlion 
God  enjoined  upon  him  the 
rite  of  circumcifion — Accor- 
dingly Ifaac  was  circumcifed 
the  eighth  day  after  his  birth 
— and  from  Ilaac  it  was  tranf- 
mitted  to  Jacob — from  Ja- 
cob to  the  twelve  patriarchs. 

9  But  the  patriarchs,  infti- 
gated   by  envy%    fold  Jofeph 

into  Egypt but  there  he 

was  eminently  diftinguifhed 
by  the  care  and  guardianfhip 
of  heaven  : 

ID  For  he  was  providen- 
tially extricated  from  all  his 
difficulties  and  forrows — that 
wifdom,  with  which  he  was 
endov/ed,  conciliated  to  him 
the  favour  and  contidcnce  of 
Pharao  the  Ibvcreign  of  E- 
gypt,  by  whom  he  was  ccn- 
Itituted  not  only  the  gover- 
nor of  his  domcltic  affairs, 
but  of  all  his  dominions. 

II  In  procefs  of  time  that 
dire  famine  he  predieled  in- 
vaded 


Chap.  vii.     T'he  Act  $  of 

vaded  Egypt,  and  involved 
Canaan  too  in  the  lad  diftrefs 
—-for  our  anceftors  now  found 
their  ftores  totally  exhaiifted. 

12  In  thefe  melancholy 
circumftances  Jacob  receiving 
jnfortjiation  what  an  immenie 
ftock  of  corn  had  been  accu- 
mulated in  Egypt,  immedi- 
ately difpatched  our  anceftors 
thither. 

1 3  Upon  their  fecond  com- 
ing to  buy  provifions  Jofeph 
diicovered  himfelf  to  his  bro- 
thers— and  made  Pharao  ac- 
quainted with  his  family. 

14  Jofeph  then  fent  for  his 
father  Jacob  and  all  his  near 
relations- 


■amountmg  to  ie- 
venty  five  perfons. 

15  Jacob  accordingly  re- 
moved into  Egypt — where 
he,  and  our  anceftors,  paid 
the  debt  to  nature. 

1 6  But  their  remains  were 
removed  to  Sychem,  and  de- 
pofited  in  that  monument 
which  Jacob  purchafed  of  the 
fons  of  Emmor  the  father  of 
Sychem. 

17  When  the  time,  which 
God  had  fixed  for  the  accom- 
pliftiment  of  his  prediftion 
was  nov/  drawing  near,  and 
the  race  of  ifrael  had  now  en- 
creafed  in:o  animmenfc  body : 


the  Apostles.  ^^^j 

1 8  after  a  feries  of  years  a 
monarch  of  another  family  af- 
cended  the  throne  of  Egypt, 
who  knew  nothmg  of.Jofeph*4 
fervices. 

19  This  fove reign  put  in 
practice  the  moft  infidious  arts 
againft  our  race,  infiidling  e- 
vcry  fpecies  of  cruelty  and 
opprcillon  upon  our  fore-fa- 
thers, and  obliging  them  e- 
ven    to   expofc     their    male 

children dengning  to  de- 

ftroy  their  very  exiftence  as  a 
people. 

20  In  this  unhappy  pe- 
riod Mofes    was    born 

an  infant  "^  divmely  beau- 
tiful —  whofe  uncommonly 
fair  and  eno-agino;  form  de- 
termined  his  parents  to  edu- 
cate him  privately  at  home- 
where  they  concealed  him 
three  m.onths. 

21  Beinor  however  at  lafl 
obliged  to  expoie  him,  the 
daughter  of  Pharao  law  him 
— was  moved  with  rendernefs 
— took  up  the  helplefs  infant 
—  brought  liim  liorae,  edu- 
cated —  and  adopted  him  for 
her  Ion. 

22  By  this  means  Mofes 
obtained  a  liberal  education, 
and  was  carefully  inilrufted 
in    ail  the  erudition   of  the 


*  Ac-<4^  T6)  05W.  Of  Gcd  is  the  Jewiih  Sitperlati-ve.  The  trump 
of  God,  1  ThefT.  iv.  16.  Ottao.  S'lvtr-j.  la  0?o  divinely  potent,  2  Cor. 
X.  4.  See  note  on  Luke  ii.  40.  The  fuperior  beauty  of  Moles  is  attefte4 
by  Juf:in,  L.  36.  C.  2.    and  Jofephus  Antiq.  L.  2.   C.  5. 


C  C    2 


W 


Egyptians 


1^8 


^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap,  vii. 


Egyptians  •— 
made     great 


in  v/hich  he 


improvement, 
and  foon  became  eminently 
diftinguiflicd  for  his  genius 
and  his  atchicvements. 

2^  When  he  was  forty 
years  of  age,  he  formed  a  re- 
fblution  to  infpeft  the  flate 
of  his  fufiering  brethren  the 
Ifraehres. 

24  Faffing  therefore  among 
them,  he  happened  to  fee  one 
of  them  mod  injurioufly  and 

cruelly    abulcd Inftant- 

ly  he  ru filed  to  affifl  and  pro- 
te6l  him  —  but,  in  vindicat- 
ing the  caufe  of  the  diftrelled, 
killed  the  Egyptian. 

25  He  by  this  adion  flat- 
tered himfelf  that  his  brethren 
would  be  confcious  that  by 
hh  hand  God  would  re-eftab- 
lifh  them  in  liberty  and  hap- 
pinefs  —  But  they  were  not 
excited  by  it  to  confider  him 
as  their  future  deliverer. 

16  Upon  his  vifiting  them 
the  next  day,  he  found  two 
Ifraelites  fighting  with  cacli 
o:her — Thefe  he  tried  to  re- 
concile, and  thus  expoftulat- 
ed  with  them — Sirs !  confider 
you  are  brothers  !  —  How 
can  you  abufe  one  another  in 
this  cruel  {"hameful  manner ! 

27  He,  who  was  the 
ap:o;refix)r,  hearing  this  Ian- 
guage,  pufiied  him  away, 
faying  at  the  fame  time  to 
him  —  How  came  you  to  be 
5 


confliituted  a    governor  and 
judge  over  us  ? 

28  Do  you  intend  to  mur- 
der me,  in  the  manner  you 
murdered  the  Egyptian  yef- 
terday  ? 

29  Alarmed  at  this  unex- 
pecled  reply,  Mofes  infiiantly 
quitted  Egypt,  and  fled  with 
the  utmoft  precipitation  into 
Midian  —  where  he  refided, 
married,  and  had  two  fons. 

30  Forty  years  after  his 
departure  hither,  as  he  was 
one  day  in  the  defert  of 
mount  Sinai,  all  on  a  fud- 
den  he  faw  flames  of  fire  dart 
from  a  bufh — which  fignified 
the  prefence  of  an  angel  of 
God. 

31  Mofes  feeing  this 
wonderful  phasnomenon  ap- 
proached to  explore  it  ■ 
when  he  heard  the  follow- 
ing words  folemnly  articur 
lated  : 

32  T  am  the  God  of  thy 
fatliers,  the  God  of  Abra- 
ham, the  God  of  Ifaac,  and 
the  God  of  Jacob  —  Mofes 
now  fiiook  with  horror,  and 
durfi:  not  lift  up  his  eyes  to- 
wards the  place. 

11  The  heavenly  voice 
then  added — Loofe  thy  fan- 
dais — -  tlie  place  which  thou 
treadell  is  ficred  o^round. 

34   I   have    feen   with  in- 
finite  concern  the   cruel  fuf- 
fcrings    of    my     people    in 
Egypt 


chap.  vii.      lihe  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


Egypt  —  their  groans  have 
pierced  my  ears  —  I  am  now 
defcended  to  vindicate  them 
into  liberty — and  I  have  ap- 
pointed thee  their  deliverer. 

Q^^  So  that  this  very  per- 
ibn,  whom  they  rejeded, 
contemptuoufly  telling  him, 
Who  made  you  our  governor 
and  judge  !  —  even  this  very 
perion  the  fupreme  God  by 
his  angel,  who  now  appear- 
ed, invefted  with  a  divine 
authority  and  conflituted 
their  leader  and  deliverer. 

36  Accordingly  he  was 
their  condu6lor,  and  exhibit- 
ed liefore  them  the  moft  a- 
flonifhing  miracles  in  Egypt, 
in  the  Red  Sea,  and  in  the 
•deferts  of  Arabia,  during  a 
period  of  forty  years. 

'2^']    Tliis     illuftrious    per- 

•  fonage  gave  this  admonition 
to  the  IlVaclitcs — A  prophet, 
fimilar  to  me,  fhall  the  Lord 
your  God  raife  up  among 
you — Hear  and  obey  his  in- 
ftruftions. 

38  This  excellent  prophet 
was  the  moll  diftinguifhcd 
perfon  in  the  vail  aflembly  of 
Ifrael  —  with  him  on  mount 

•  -Sinai,  in  the  prefence  of  the 
.  whole  coUefted   body  of  our 

anccflors^  an  angel  deigned 
folely  to  converfe  —  with  hioi 
were  the  oracles  of  truth  foU 


389 

ly  cntrufted  to  interpret  an^ 
publifh  them  to  us. 

39  Yet  this  illuftrious  per- 
fon, with  all  the  illuftrious 
evidences  he  exhibited,  our 
progenitors  contemptuoufly 
repulfed  and  obftinately  dil- 
obeyed,  and  preferred  the 
ftavery  and  idolatry  of  Egypt 
to  his  guidance  : 

40  collefting  in  a  tumul- 
tuous manner  about  Aaroa 
and  clamouring  — -  make  us 
Gods,  under  whofe  aufpices 
we  may  return  to  the  country 
we  have  relinquiftied  —  As 
for  this  Mofes,  at  whofe  per- 
luafion  we  all  marched  out  of 
Egypt,  we  know  not  what 
is  now  become  of  him. 

41  They  then  made  an 
idol  in  the  figure  of  a  ^  calf, 
offered  facrifice  to  it,  and  the 
ftatue  they  had  formed  uni- 
verfally  tranfported  them  with 
the  moft  extravagant  joy. 

42  This  their  propenfity 
to  idolatry  alienated  from 
them  the  divine  regards,  and 
he  left  them  to  the  lead  of 
their  depraved  imagination 
—  to  pay  their  religious  wor- 
ftiip  to  the  heavenly  lumina- 
ries, as  one  of  the  prophets 
teftiEes  in  the  following  paf- 

lage "  O  yelfraelites  ! 

when  you  were  in  the  wil-der- 
nefs  did  you  ever,  with  ge- 


y  The  Egyptian  Qo^  Apis. 
Cc  3 


numc 


?90  ^he  Acts  cf  the  Apostles.     Chap.  vii. 

nuine  inviolable  fincerity,  of-  I  narcli,  having  been  cminent- 
fer  me  religious  iacrifices  and  I  ly  diftinguifhedby  divine  pro- 
oblations  tor  the  fpace  ofividcnee,  intended  to  have 
forty  years  ?  built   a    magnificent    temple 

43  So  far  from  this,  that :  for   the  fervicc  and   worlhip 
you  even  then  carried  about  *  of  God. 


47  But  the  execution  of 
this  grand  defign  was  referv- 
ed  to  Solomon. 

48  Not  that  the  infinitely 


with  you  the  Ihrine  of  Moloch, 
and  your  deity  Rephan  in  the 
form  of  a  ''  itar  —  You  car- 
ried with  you  carved  images 

of  thefe  {i(?:itious  Gods,  to  |  fupreme  and  ever  blefifedGod 
which  you  paid  your  adora-  refideth  in  fl:ru6lures  reared 
tion  —  But  for  this  flagrant 
idolatry  and  v/ickcdnefs  you 
Ihall  be  dragged  captives  into 
a  remote  country,  fituated 
beyond  Babylon. 

44  In  the  v/ildernefs  too 
the  fymbol  of  the  divine  pre- 
fence  refided  with  our  fore- 
fathers in  that  tabernacle, 
which  the  Being,  who  deign- 
ed to  copverfe  with  Moles, 
commanded  him  to  rear,  and 
to  form  after  tlje  •'  model 
that  was  fliovs-n  to  him. 

45  This  tabernacle  tlie  fub- 
fequent  generation  brought 
with  them  into  Paleiline, 
when  under  the  aufpices  of 
Jofhua  they  entered  it  and 
extirpated  the  natives  • —  It 
continued  to  the  time  of  king 
David. 

46    Tliis    illuftrious    mo- 


by  mortal  hands,  as  the  pro- 
phet  hath  very  juftly  obfervr 
cd 

49  "  Heaven  is  my  throne, 
earth  is  my  footftool  —  can 
any  earthly  building  confine 
my  prefence!  cm  any  edifice 
circumfcribe  my  immenfity  ! 

50  Was  not  univerfal  na- 
ture called  into  exiftence  by 
my  omnipotence !" 

5 1  O  ye  obftinatc  and  in- 
coitigible  nation  !  your  hearts 
are  totally  callous  and  infen- 
fible  —  for  you  rejed:  all  the 
ftriking  and  repeated  evi- 
dences winch  the  fpirit  of 
God  exhibits  before  you  — 
You  aft  over  the  vices  which 
your  anceftors  perpetrated  be- 
fore you. 

52  For  which  of  the  an- 
tient   prophets  did  they  not 


2  Tlic  ILgypcians  and  Pho^niciar.s  nfed  to  aflign  to  thc-ir  Deities  par- 
ticular _/7^//.f.      Sec  U/iiverj'al  Uij'iory,  Vol.  xvii.  p.  2t>4.  8vo. 

^  Tv-rcv.  "  He  ortcrcd  grcr.t  rewards  to  thofe  artifans  who  were  cm- 
ployed  in  fabric.Ttii.g  arms,  and  hx  gave  them  a  >kc.AI  of  each  kind  of  ar- 
xnoin"."  A-/6JKS  J^i  xeii  rvv  oTAair  .7?  ^-^k^  iKA9^  Ti-^:>;-  Dial.  Si-, 
<nhm.   Vol.  i,    p.  675.    //>^i.%. 

perfecute. 


Chap.  vlli.    T2v  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


perfecute,  did  they  not  af- 
iallinate,  who  predifted  the 
future  coming  ot  that  moil 
iCxcellent  and  righteous  per- 
fon,  whom  you  lately  betray- 
ed and  murdered ! 

53  The  law  was  folemnly 
promulgated  amidft  a  nume- 
rous ^  retinue  of  attending 
angels  —  yet  you  have  paid 
no  regard  to  its  facred  injunc- 
tions." 

|-^54  These  words  ftung 
the  audience  with  fury  and 
revenge,  and  trani'portcd 
them  with  rage  to  that  de- 
gree, that  they  gnafhed  their 
teeth  upon  him. 

c,^  In  the  midft  of  this 
tumult  Stephen-,  by  an  im- 
pulfe  of  the  holy  fpirit,  rail- 
ed his  eyes  to  heaven,  and 
defcried  the  glorious  fymbol 
of  the  divine  prefence,  and 
Tefus  ftandinn-  at  the  right 
hand  of  God. 

P)6  On  the  fight  of  this 
s;lorious  fpeflacle  he  cried 
out  in  tranfpcrt  —  1  now  fee 
heaven  opened,  and  the  fon 
oi  man  fiUing  at  God's  right 
hand  ! 

57  Upon  hearing  this  tiiey 
all  raifed  a  confni'ed  clamour 
' — ■  (topped  their  ears,  and 
ruihed  furioufly  upon  him. 


39V 

58  They  then  dragged  hini 
out  of  the  city  to  ftone  him, 
and  the  witneifes  ftripped  off 
their  upper  garments,  and 
committed  them  to  the  cuf- 
tody  of  a  young  perfon,  whofe 
name  was  Saul. 

59  While  they  were  over- 
whelming him  with  ftones, 
Stephen  devoutly  uttered  this 
ejaculation — Lord  Jeius  !  re- 
ceive my  fpirit ! 

60  He  then  kneeled  down 
and    fervently     uttered    this 

prayer O  Lord  I  impute 

not  to  them  the  suilt  of  this 


murder  i 


After   he  had 


Ipokenthefe  words,  he  breath- 
ed his  lail. 

CHAP.    VIII. 


I  ^  I  "■  O  this  murder  Saul 
•*  had  given  a  chear- 
ful  fuffrage  —  Immediately 
upon  this  there  was  raifed  a 
violent  perfecution  againft 
the  Ciiriitians  who  were  in 
Jcrufalcm  —  who  all,  except 
the  apoilles,  abandoned  it, 
and  diiperied  into  different 
parts  of  Judsea  and  Samaria. 
2  The  body  .of  Stephen 
was  taken  up  and  interred 
by  feverai  devout  perlbns, 
who  deplored  his  death  witU 


^  F/<  S'le/rnyfLi  a?!io>!g  ranks.  This  is  a  mlUlary  term.  Sec  Gfotius  ill 
loc.  F./?  with  an  accujati-ve  frequently  ligai'nc3.^«//?is«£-.  But  fi)](l  this 
irG/pelmuJi  he  preach;;d  3.mong  all  nalioKs.  ^.ii  'Zs/.v^a  ta  5  0r,».  Murk  Xiii. 
10..  They  fcaitered  all  luickcdiufi  among  p^n  ,\  tij  <ft{9s«7r»s.  J^fi'-n* 
Martyr.  Apolog.  2.  p.  12.     Edit.  Q.xon. 

•      -  -  C  c  4  great 


T^he  Acts  of  the  Afost^xes.    Chap.  viii. 


great  and  unfeigned  lamen- 
tation. 

3  In  the  mean  time  Saul 
^  puriued  thcf  chriftians  with 

implacable   fury forcibly 

entering  private  houfes,  and 
dragginpjperjbnsofbothfexes, 
without  dilliniTtion,  to  prifon. 

§ — 4  The  chriftians,  who 
were  thus  difperfed  in  vari- 
ous parts,  dilfeminatcd  their 
principles,  where  ever  they 
came. 

5  Philip,  particularly, 
came  to  a  town  belono-ino;  to 
the  Samaritans,  and  preach- 
ed to  its  inhabitants.  That 
the  late  Jefus  was  the  great 
Meffiah.jbr:*': 

6  His  dextrine  met  with 
iiniverfal  reception  from  the 
people — hearing  and  feeing 
them  confirmed  by  many  a- 
ftonilhing  operations,  which 
he  publickly  performed : 

7  for  many  perfons,  who 
were  greatly  diibrdered  in 
their  iniclledts,  were  inftant- 
ly  reftored  by  him  to  the  ufe 
of  reafon — and  great  numbers 
of  thofe,  who  were  paralytic 


and  lame  were  perfedly  cur- 
ed. >'  i'-iJ  'as  : 

S  His  do^lrines  and  his 
beneficent  miracles  caufed 
univerfal  joy  in  that  town. 

9  There  had  been  in  the 
fame  town;  for  fome  time,  a 
man  whofe  name  was  Simon, 
v/ho  pubiickly  pretended  to 
be  a  very  extraordinary  per- 
fon,  and  who  had  amazed 
the  whole  nation  of  the  Sa-. 
maritans  by  his  magic  arts. 

10  Thejuggle  and  artifice 
of  this  imipoitor  had  fecured 
him  univerfal  veneration  from 
high  and  low  indifcriminately 
—  who  believed  him  inveil- 
ed  with  extraordinary  divine 
powers. 

1 1  He  was  therefore  held 

in  prodigious  reverence 

for  he  had  for  a  confiderable 
timiC  ailonifhed  them  by  the 
delufive  tricks  lie  had  ex- 
hibited among  them. 

12  But  when  the  people 
were  now  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  the  chriftian  religion, 
and  chcarfuUy  embracing  the 
do6lrines  that  Philip  taught 


*  F.Av//«Mt'«Tc.  This  word  is  exprefllve  of  the  gceateft  i;/<5/!?Mri?  an^ 
ferocity.  "  Such  was  their  infatiable  defirc  of  plunder,  that  they  rufliej 
forward,  committing  tjie  moft  dreadful  ravages  and  devailations  in  their 
<!Ountry :  x.^;;'»T5>H'Te<  (fvrx^  vji  wurf^yoi/ivm.  Polybrus,  y>.  276.  To 
take  and  deftroy  our  enemies  calllcs,  harbours,  towns,  men,  fliip.-,  crops, 
in  order  to  weaken  our  adverfarics,  and  ilrengthen  ourfelves,  is  julH- 
iiable,  and  agreeable  to  the  lavvs  of  war  :  but  wantoniy  to  dcllroy  things 
that  neither  dlm'mifh  the  power  of  ouh  enemy  nor  cugineni  our  own,  and 
xo  expend r.ur  rage  (wfjaiv^^ti)  on  teniplfs,  and  ilatues  —  ou^ht  it  not 
to  be  pronounctd  the  molt  abfu^id  and  bruta!  madntii  :  Polviifa,  Lib.  v. 
p.  360.    Edit.  Haiscv.  1619. 

conccrnin2 


Chap.  viii.     '^he  Acts  pf/^^i  Apostles. 


concerning  the  gofpel  difpen- 
fation  and  the  Mcfliah,  were 
all,  both  men  and  women, 
baptized  by  him, 

1 3  this  Simon  too  avowed 
his  belief  of  chriftianity  and 
was  baptized  -—  From  which 
time  he  was  continually  along 
with  Philip,  teftifying  the  ut- 
moft  aftonifliment  at  the  mi- 
raculous powers  he  faw  him 
exert. 

.14  When  the  apoilles  at 
Jcrufalem  were  informed  of 
the  reception  that  Samaria 
had  given  to  the  chriftian  re- 
velation, they  fent  Peter  and 
John  to  them. 

15  The  two  apoftles,  on 
their  arrival,  fervently  beg- 
ged of  God  that  the  Sama- 
ritan converts  might  receive 
the  effufion  of  the  holy  fpirit. 

1 6  For  none  of  them  had 
yet  been  endowed  with  fpiri- 
tual  gifts — they  had  only  been 
baptized  upon  their  profefiing 
their  fmcere  belief  in  the 
truth  of  the  gofpel. 

1 7  After  they  had  prefer- 
red this  addrefs  to  heaven, 
they  laid  their  hands  upon 
them  —  after  which  the  mi- 
raculous influences  of  the  ho- 
ly fpirit  were  imparted  to 
them. 

18  When  Simon  faw  that 
by  the  impofition  of  the  hands 
of  the  apoftles  the  gifts  of  the 
holy  fpirit  were  conferred,  he 


393 

took  them  afide,  and  offered 
them  a  fum  of  money, 

19  Saying  at  the  fame  time 
—  Communicate,  I  befeech 
you,  the  power  you  pofiefs, 
to  me  too,  and  enable  me  to 
confer  the  holy  fpirit  upon 
whomibever  I  lliall  lay  my 
hands. 

20  Peter  faid  to  hijn — May 
thy  money  perifh  with  thee  I 
tor  being  capable  of  form- 
ing fo  bafe  and  groveling  a 
thought,  as  to  hope  to  be  able 
to  purchafe  thefe  divine  gifts 
with  money  ! 

2 1  By  fuch  a  propofal  thou 
difcQvereft  that  thou  haft  no 
real    cordial  intereft  in   this 

important  concern The 

omnifcientGod  knoweth  that 
thy  heart  is  not  fincerc. 

22  Repent,  therefore,  of 
thy  wickednefs  with  unfeign- 
ed contrition  and  remorle,  and 
carneftly  implore  God  to  par- 
don thy  confcious  infmcerity 
and  diffimuiation. 

23  For  I  am  convinced 
you  are  an  abandoned  crea- 
ture, and  are  now  in  a  moft 
dreadful  and  deplorable  con- 
dition. 

24  Simon  replied. — 'I  beg 
you  would  intercede  for  me  in 
your  prayers  to  God,,  that  the 
dreadiul  judgments,  you  have 
mentioned,  may  be  averted 
fro  n  me.  ' 

25  After  this  the  apoftles 

returned 


^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap,  viil, 

tinftly  the  words  of  the  pro- 
phet Ifaiah — Upon  which  he 
laid — Do  you  undcrfland  the 
meaning  of  the  paflage  you 


394- 

returned  to  Jerufalem,  after 
having  preached,  and  by  their 
teftimony  confirmed  the  chrif- 
tian  dodrine  not  only  in  that 
town,  but  in  feveral  other 
villages  of  the  Samaritans. 

§ 16  After   the  two 

apoftles  had  left  Samaria,  an 
angel  of  God  appeared  and 
thus  fpoke  to  Philip  —  Go 
immediately  fcuthward  to  the 
road  that  leads  from  Jerufa- 
lem to  Gaza,  which  is  now 
xininhabited. 

27  Inftantly  he  obeyed  the 
heavenly  admonition  —  and 
upon  his  arrival  behold  an 
-^Ethiopian  eunuch,  one  of 
the  mofl  eminent  perfonages 
at  the  court  of  "  Candace 
queen  of  the  ^^thiopians, 
nnd  by  her  conftituted  the 
fupreme  governor  of  the 
treafury,  had  been  at  the  ca- 
pital to  pay  his  religious  ado- 
rations, 

28  and  was  now  returning 
in  his  chariot,  and  reading  a- 
loud  as  he  travelled  the  pro- 
j-)hecy  of  Ifaiah. 

29  Philip  was  then  prompted 
by  a  divine  impulfe  to  ad- 
vance up  to  the  chariot. 

30  Running  to  the  fide  of 
it,   therefore,    he  heard  dif- 


are  reading  ? 

31  The  eunuch  replied  — 
How  is  it  poffible  for  me  to 
underftand  fuch  obfcure  pro- 
phecies, unlefs  I  had  fome 
intelligent  perfon  to  explain 
them  to  me? — »He  then  in^ 
vited  Philip  into  the  chariot 
to  interpret  the  v/ords. 

32  The  portion  of  fcrip- 
ture  which  he  had  been  read- 
ing was  this  • —  "  He  was  led 
as  a  flieep  to  the  flaughter, 
:indas  a  lamb  before  its  fliear- 
er  is  dumb,  fo  he  uttered  not 
one  repining,  one  murmur^ 
ing  word. 

33  In  the  ftate  of  his  hu- 
miliation he  met  with  the 
mofl  unjull  treatment,  with 
the  moft  injurious  indigni- 
ties— No  words  can  fully  re- 
prefcnt  the  abandoned  profli- 
gacy of  the  age  in  which  he 

lived for  in  the  blood  of 

this   divine  perfon  they  em- 
brued  their  hands." 

34  The  eunuch  then  faid 
to  Philip — I  fhall  be  greatly 
obliged  to  you  if  you  can  c- 
lucidate  this  palTage  —  Doth 


*  Sirabo  mentions  Candacr,  who,  in  bis  time,  he  fays,  was  queen  of  the 
Ethiopians,  and  a  lady  of  great  fpirit  :  K*i'</'a)tn<,  >»  tt-ab'  nu-..',  «p£)e 
ricv  Atbn-roiVy  cnJ'f.iyj)  TK  yvii^'  5/>v^o,  Lib.  xvii.  p.  820.  Edit.  Pans^ 
1620.  rt-VB/y'i'Jif  <JZi<Tt  Kctv^aK»(  :  Dion.  p.  57.6.  Edit,  Hancv.  1606. 
Rcgnare  ficminani  Canefacen :  quod  tiomen  muhis  jam  annis  ad  rcginas 
tranfiit.  .rliniui.  Lib.  vi.  c.  29. 

c  the 


Chap.  ix.      'The  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 

expanded   with    the 


the  prophet  here  fpeak  of 
himfelf,  or  of  ibme  other  per- 
fon? 
.  35  Phihp  then,  beginning 
with  the  exphcation  of  this 
pafTage,  proceeded  to  exhibit 
•before  hijn  all  the  evidences 
of  the  chriitian  rdigion. 

36  The  eunuch  being  con- 
vinced of  its  truth  and  divi- 
nity, it  happened  as  they 
were  travelling  on,  engaged 
in  mutual   conference,    that 

they  came  to  fome  water- 

upon  which  the  eunuch  faid 
to  Philip- — See  !  here  is  wa- 
ter— have  you  any  objedion 
to  baptizing  me  ? 

37  If  you  are  a  fincere  be- 
liever in  the  truth  of  chriflia- 
nity,  replied  Philip,  you  may 
— *-He  anfwered  —  I  am  upon 
the  beft  evidence  convinced 
that  Jefus  is  the  Meffiah  and 
the  fon  of  God. 

38  He  then  ordered  the 
chariot  to  flop — upon  which 
they  both  went  down  into  the 
water,  and  Philip  baptized 
him. 

39  But  no  fooner  were 
they  come  up  out  of  the  wa- 

^^er,  but  the  holy  fpirit  '^  was 
Ihed  upon  the  eunuch — and 
an  angel  of  God  fuddeniy  con 


395 

highefl 
tranfports. 

40  But  the  firft  place  in 
which  Philip  was  feen  was  A- 
zotus  —  through  which  he 
pafled,  and  promulgated  the 
chriftian  doftrines  in  all  the 
towns  he  travelled  through, 
'till  he  arrived  at  Csfarea. 

CHAP.   IX, 

N  the  mean  time  Saul, 
who  had  for  fome  time 
been  uttering  the  mod  furi- 
ous menaces  againft  the  chrif~ 
tians,  and  ftill  vowed  deftruc- 
tion  to  the  whole  name,  wait- 
ed upon  the  high  priefl, 

2  and  begged  he  would 
grant  him  letters  of  licence  to 
the  fynagogues  in  Damafcus, 
to  impower  him  to  feize,  fet- 
ter, and  condud  to  Jerufa- 
lem,  any  perfons,  of  either 
fex,  whom  he  found  infeded 
with  thofe  principles. 

3  With  this  commilTion  he 

left  the  city But  when  he 

WS.S  now  advanced  within  a 
little  diftance  from  Damafcus, 
all  on  a  ludden  aflood  of  light 
from  the  (ky  poured  its  efful- 
gent fplendors  around  him. 


_  4  By  its  immenfe  and  ir- 

veyed  Philip  away  out  of  the    refiftible  effufion   he  was  in- 


eunuch's  fio-ht  — This  dip;ni- 
fied  perfonage  afterwards  piir 


ftantly  ilruck  to  the  ground 
where  as  he  lay  proftrate 


fued  his  journey  with  an  heart    he  heard  the  following  words 

See  Dr.  Mill. 

folemnly 


3¥> 


l.lje  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  ix. 


folemnly   uttered Saul  ! 

Saul !   why  dofl  thou  perfe- 
cute  me! 

5  Lord  !  who  art  thou,  he 
replied- — I  am,  anfwered  the 
heavenly  vifion,  that  Jelus, 
whom  thou  art  perfecuting 
—  bur  it  is  madnels  for  thee 
to  -contend  with  a  luperior 
power ! 

6  Saul  now  in  an  ecftafy 
of  terrour  and  ftupefaclion 
faid  — Lord!  What  wouldeft 
thou  have  me  to  do  ?  — The 
celeflial  form  then  faid — Rife 
and  go  into  the  city  —  thou 
iliak  there  be  acquainted  with 
tlie  province  I  liave  afligned 
thee. 

7  During  this  amazing 
icene  the  other  perfons,  who 
were  in  his  company,  flood 
fixed  and  fpeechlels  with  hor- 
ror and  confternation  —  they 
diftinftly  heard  the  voice,  but 
faw  not  the  perlbn  by  whom 
it  was  uttered. 

8  Saul  then  role  from  the 
eaith — oDened  his  eves,  but 
found  the  dazzling  fplendor 
had  totally  deprived  him  of 
iight  —  His  fellow  travel- 
lers led  him  by  the  hand,  and 
conduced  him  intoDamafcus. 

9  I-Icre  he  coiuinucd  dark 
for  three  days,  and  in  that 
time  neither  cat  or  drank  any 
thing. 

10  There  was  then  in  Da- 
mafcLis  a  chriflian  whofe  name 


was  Ananias.  This  perfon 
was  favoured  with  a  divine 
vifion,  in  which  our  Lord 
called  him  by  name — to  whom 
he  anfv/ered  —  Lord  !  1  am 
ready  to  perform  whatever 
you  are  pltafed  to  enjoin  me. 

1  I  Jefus  then  faid  to  him 
—  Go  iiumediately  into  the 
ftreet  called  Eutheia,  and 
enquire  at  the  houfe  of  Jude 
for  a  perfon  called  Saul,  a 
native  of  Tarfus — for  behold 
he  is  now  praying  ! 

1 2  He  too  hath  had  a  vi- 
fion, in  which  there  was  re- 
prelented  a  man  called  Ana- 
nias, approaching  him,  and 
by  the  impofition  of  his  hands 
inflantly  reiloring  him  to 
the  ule  of  his  fight. 

13  Ananias  replied—*— 
Lord  !  I  have  been  informed 
by  many  perfons  of  the  va- 
rious and  dreadful  miferies 
that  this  very  perfon  hath  in- 
flidetl  upon  the  profefi"ors  of 
thy  gofpel  in  Jerulalem. 

14  And  in  this  city  he  hath 
now  received  an  unlimited 
authority  from  the  high  priefts 
to  apprehend  and  confine  all 
who  adhere  to  thy  caufc.        '* 

15  I'he  Lord  then  faid  to 
him — Hefitate  not  to  go  to 
him,  for  he  is  my  feledt  and 
diftinguiflied  inftrument,  by 
means  of  whom  the  truth  of 
my  gofpel  fliall  be  diffufed  3- 
monG;  ih^  Ilcatbms  and  amoncr 

the 


Chap.  ix.      'The  Acts  of 

the  Jews^  and  publiflied  be- 
fore the  mod  dignified  and 
auguft  perfonages. 

1,^  For  I  will  explicitly  re- 
veal and  exhibit  before  him 
that  feries  of  labours  and  luf- 
ferings  which  I  have  ap- 
pointed him  to  fupport  for 
the  chriftian  caufe. 

17  Immediately  Ananias 
complied  with  the  heaVenly 
admonition,  and  went  into 
the  houfe  where  he  lodged 
— he  then  laid  his  hands  upon 
him  and  faid — Brother  Saul ! 
thatjefus,  who  appeared  to 
you  on  your  road  hither  hath 
deputed  me  to  you,  miracu- 
loufly  to  reftore  you  to  your 
light  —  after  which  you  fhall 
be  favoured  with  the  divine 
aff^tus. 

1 8  That  moment  there  fell 
from  his  eyes  Ibmething  like 
the  fcales  of  fifh  •,  and  he  in- 
ftantaneoufly  recovered  his 
fight — he  then  rofe  and  was 
baptized. 

1 9  After  this  he  took  re- 
frelhment,  and  being  foon  re- 
inftated  in  his  former  health 
and  vigour,  fpent  fome  days 
with  the  chriftians  in  Da- 
mal^us     ^^l/r  ;,i;,.  ,       , 

20  Immediately  atter  he 
recovered,  he  went  into  the 
iVnagogues,  and  publickly 
declared  his  conviction.  That 
Jefus  was  the  Meffiali  and 
a  cnoft  illuftrious  ineifenger 
Irom  God. 


the  Apostles. 


:97 


21  A  condu6t  and  decla- 
ration fo  unexpefted  filled  all 
the  audience  with  the  lafl  a- 
ftonifhment  — one  faid  to  an- 
other. Is  not  this  the^..vfery, 
perlbn  who  fo  fbrenuoufly  at- 
tempted to  exterminate  the 
chriftian   caufe  from  Jerui'a- 

lem  ? Did  he  not  come 

hither  vefted  with  full  powers 
from  the  high  priefts  to  ap- 
prehend thofe  who  had  em- 
braced this  religion  and  car- 
ry them  in  chains  to  Jeru- 
falem  ? 

22  But  Saul  exerted  all  his 
powers  in  proving  tlie  truth 
of  the  principles  he  had  now 
efpoufed,  and  refuted  the 
Jews  of  Damafcus,  who  op- 
pofcd  him  —  moll  zealoufly 
demonftrating  by  many  ar- 
guments that  Jefus  was  the 
true  MelTiah. 

23  The  Jews  being  highly 
exafperated  at  his  condud:, 
fome  time  after  confederated 
together  to  murder  him. 

24  Accordingly  they  v/atch- 
ed  the  gates  of  the  city  day 
and  night  to  affafTinate  him 
— But  he  having  received  in- 
formation of  their  bloody  de- 
ligns  againft  his  life, 

25  the  chriftians  privately 
took  him,  and  let  him  down 
in  a  baflvet  through  an  aper- 
ture in  the  city  v/all. 

26  Upon  his  arrival  in  Je- 
ruialem  he  immediately   of- 
fered to  join  himfelf  as  a  mem- 
ber 


Chap.  ix. 

cortcd  him    to  Csfarea,  and 
then  lent  him  to  Tarfus. 

§ — 31  ^At  this  time  all  the 
focietiesof  chriftians  that  were 
formed  in  all  the  various  parts 
of  Judsa,  Galilee,  and  Sa- 
maria, enjoyed  an  happy  and 
undilturbed  tranquillity- 


398  The  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

ber  to  the  fociety  of  chrlftians 
there — but  theyfhunncd  and 
feared  him,  being  diffident  of 
his  fmcerity. 

.  27  But  Barnabas  took  him 
and  introduced  him  to  the 
apoftles  —  giving  them,  at 
the  fame  time,  a  minute  de- 
tail of  the  vifion  he  had  feen 
in  his  late  journey,  wjiat  Je- 
fus  then  faid  to  him,  and  with 
what  an  undaunted  refolution 
he  had  publickJy  advanced, 
and  defended  in  Damafcus 
the  truth  of  the  chriftian  doc- 
trines. 

28  Upon  this  he  was-  un- 
animoufly  admitted  into  their 
community — and  all  the  time 
he  was  in  Jerufalem  he  pro- 
mulgated the  principles  of 
the  gofpel  with  the  moft  ge- 
nerous freedom  and  intrepi- 
dity. 

29  He  addreffed  his  ar- 
guments to  the  Helleniftic 
Jews,  and  laboured  in  a  dif- 
putation  he  had  with  them  to 
convince  them  of  their  truth 
—  They  were   incenfcd  and 


formed  a  defign  to  murder 
him. 

30  The  chriltians,  receiv- 
ing information  of  their  con- 
federacy againfl  his  life,  ef- 


and  the  number  of  thefe  fo- 
cieties,  whofe  conftituent 
m.embers  were  happy  in  the 
effufion  of  the  holy  Ipirit,  and 
adorned  their  profefTion  by  a 
life  of  ftrict  piety  and  holi- 
nefs,  was  continually  aug- 
menting, 

32  Peter  taking  a  journey 
with  a  defign  to  vifit  thefe  re- 
fpeftive  focieties  in  their  or- 
der, came,  among  others,  to 
a  congregation  of  chriflians 
at  Lydda. 

'2,1^  There  was  then  in  this 
town  a  man  whofe  name  was 
iEneas,  who  had  been  con- 
fined to  his  bed  eight  years 
by  the  palfy. 

34  To  this  perfon  Peter 
went  and  thus  fpoke  -—  M- 
neas!  Jefus  the  Mefilah  frceth 
you  from  yourdiforder — Rife, 
be  you  reilored  to  your  for- 
mer ftrength  —  that  moment 
he  got  up  in  perfcfl  healtli 
and  vigour. 


'  Caligula,  who  mnjo  filled  the  Imperial  thrnre,  ga.vc  great  diflurbaiice 
to  the  whole  Jewilh  community  by  ordering  Pi!rc?uus  to  inarch  an  army 
to  Jerufalem,  and  ercd  his  luitucs  in  the  temple.  The  mifcries,  that  kciu 
threatened  the  Je^is,  put  a  ftop  to  the  perfecuticns  of  the  Chrijlians. 
E.  J.  Lib.  ii.  c.  6/. 

35  Tlie 


Chap.  X.     T^he  Acts  of  tht  Apostle 

^c^  The  fight  of  this  pcr- 
fon,  reinftated  in  his  former 
health,  convinced  all  the  in- 
habitants of  Lydda  and  Sha- 
ron, who  unanimoufly  cm- 
braced  the  chriftian  religion. 

§ — 2 6  At  Joppe  alfo  there 
was  a  woman  who  had  elpouf- 
ed  the  principles  of  the  gof- 
pel,  whofe  name  was  Tabi- 
tha,  in  Gr(?^^,  Dorcas  —  She 
Was  a  perfon  of  a  truly  bene- 
ficent and  hberal  difpofition. 

37  During  Peter's  flay  at 
Lydda  fhe  fell  fick  and  died 
—  Her  friends  after  having 
wafhed  the  corpfe  laid  k  -in 
an  upper  room. 

38  The  chriflians  in  Joppe, 
which  was  near  Lydda,  hav- 
ing received  information  that 
Peter  was  there,  immediately 
difpatched  two  mefiengers  to 


399 

40  Peter  ordered  them  all 

to  quit  the  apartment — upon 

v/hich  he  kneeled  down   and 

prayed' After  this  devout 

addrefs  to  God  he  turned  to 

the  dead  body,  and  faid 

Tabitha!  rile — That  moment 


him- 


■entreatino;  he  would 


come  to  them  without  delay. 
39  On  receiving  this  mef- 
fage  Peter  went  along;  with 
them  —  On  his  arrival  m  the 
place  they  took  him  into  the 
upper  room  where  the  corpfe 
lay — round  which  all  the  m- 
digcnt  widows  ftood  bathed 
in  tears,  and  deploring  the 
irreparable  lot's  they  had  fuf- 

tained fhowing  Peter  a 

great  variety  of  ^  garments 
that  Dorcas  had  made^  while 
Oie  was  living,  to  cloath  poor 
neceflitous  objetSts. 


fhe   opened  her  eyes,  looked 
at  Peter,  and  fat  up. 

41  He  then  gave  her  his 
hand,  and  helped  her  up  — 
Peter  called  the  chriftians  and 
the  mourning  widows,  and 
prefented  her  to  them  in  per- 
fect health. 

42  The  fame  of  this  mira- 
cle was  foon  diifufed  through 
all  Joppe,  and  induced  great 
nun]bers  to  embrace  the  chrif- 
tian revelation. 

43  Peter  after  this  con- 
tinued a  confiderable  time  an 
Joppe,  and  lodged  with  one 
Simon  a  tanner. 


CHAP.   X. 

I  'Tp  HERE  was  at  thai: 
A  time  in  Csefarea  a 
Roman  officer,  whofe  name 
was  Cornelius,  a  centurion  of 
the  Italian  cohort. 

2  This  gentleman  and  his 
whole  family  were  eminent 
for  religious  piety — he  was  al- 
fo extemely  liberal  and  bene- 
ficent to  the  poor,  and  con- 
ftantly  regular  in  his  daily  de- 
votions. 


A/7iP:tf  v.a.1  iy.s,7ici,  undir  and  upper  garments. 


One 


Tkc  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap.  x. 
8  And  after  he  had  related 


400 

3  One  day,  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  as 
he  was  engaged  in  the  private 
exercifes  of  fervent  prayer 
to  God,  he  faw  a  celellial 
meflenger  enter  his  apart- 
ment, and  call  him  by  his 
name. 

4  Cornelius  inflantly  fix- 
ing his  eyes  upon  him,  and 
iliuddering  with  terror  faid  to 

the  heavenly  form- 'Lord  ! 

What  means  thy  prclence ! 
— The  angel  replied — Corne- 
lius !  thy  fervent  prayers  and 
thy  charitable  aftions  have  af- 
cended  to  the  Deity  as  the 
mofb  pkafing  and  grateful 
oblation. 

5  God  hath,  therefore,  de- 
puted me  to  bid  thee  imme- 
diately to  difpatch  a  meiTcn- 
ger  to  Joppe,  and  fend  for 
one  Simon  lurnamed  Peter. 

6  He  lodges  with  one  Si- 
mon a  tanner,  whole  houfe  is 
fituated  by  the  fea  fide — This 
perfon  will  inflruft  thee  in  thy 
duty. 

7  The  celeftial  meflenger, 
having  uttered  thcfe  words, 
difappeared- — Cornelius  then 
immediately  called  two  of  his 
domellics  and  a  religious  fol- 
dier  who  waited  on  him. 


to  them  the  particulars  of 
this  tranfacbon,  he  difpatched 
them  to  Joppc. 

9  The  next  day  as  the  mcf- 
fengers  were  upon  the  road, 
and  had  now  advanced  with- 
in a  little  way  of  the  town, 
Peter  retired  about  noon  to 
the  top  of  the  houfe,  to  offer 
his  devotions  to  God. 

10  At  the  time  he  afcend- 
ed  he  felt  the  keen  fenfations 
of  hunger — but  while  the  fa- 
mily was  preparing  refrcfh- 
ment,  he  fell  into  a  trance. 

1 1  And  in  a  divine  vifion 
he  had  the  following  fcene  ex- 
hibited to  him  ■ —  He  faw  the 
flvyfuddenly  part,  and  from  the 
aperture  he  beheld  a  kind  of 
receptacle,  like  a  large  flieet  ''j 
tied  at  the  four  corners,  de- 
fcend  towards  him. — and  gra- 
dually let  down  'till  it  refted 
on  the  ground. 

12  This  contained  all 
kinds  of  quadrupeds  on  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  every 
fpecies  of  wild  beads,  rep- 
tiles, and  fowls. 

I '},  After  this  was  defcend- 
ed  and  placed  at  his  feet — he 
heard  the  following  words 
pronounced — Peter  !  kill  and 


*■  O^;!"':-  This  vord  fignifie?  any  large  wrapper  of  cloatli,  generally 
llnnen.  It  is  iiffd  for  the  looll-  linnen  robe  the  /'<y/«/ virgins  wore.  "  The 
high  priell  punilhcs  the  offender  fomc  Umcs  Jfripprd  nf  her  upper  garment 
(^ouiHi)    c&rriif    «!'    TrfA/Tii/  «  TaDi:£T;/i'0/a=r)tf.      Plutarch  ^iitnia.,    p.   122. 

Edit.  Gr.  Sccph.     It  is  ufed  by  Homr.     Tuv  /'  at  iMV  KiTnAi  ofi&iai 
iyj>v^l\.  S.  595. 

cat 


fchapVx.       ne  Acts  of 

eat  of  any  of  theie  creatures 
indifcriminately. 

14  By  no  means  Lord  !  re- 
plied Peter,  I  have  ever  con- 
fcientioufly  refrained  from  e- 
very  fpecies  of  food  which  is 
-unclean. 

15  The  heavenly  voice 
then  refumed— — -What  God 
hath  deemed  pure,  dare  not 
tliou  to  pronounce  impure. 

1 6  This  was  repeated  three 
times— after  which  the  whole 
apparatus  was  conveyed  up 
into  heaven. 

1 7  While  Peter  was  revolv- 
ins;  this  amazins;  fcene  in  his 
mind,  and  anxioufly  rumi- 
nating v/hat  it  could  import, 
the  mellengers  of  Cornelius 
were  below, 

18  enquiring  if  one  Simon 
Hrnamed  Peter  lodg-ed  there. 

19  While  Peter  was  folici- 
toufly  refiecling  on  the  parti- 
culars of  this  vifion,  he  was 
by  an  immediate  fuggeftion 
ot  the  fpirit  iniormed  that 
there  were  three  men  enquir- 
ing for  him : 

20  commanding  him  to  dc- 
fcend  immediately  and  go 
along  with  them  vvithout  any 

fcruple -alluring  him  that 

they  v/ere  ^tiit  co  him  by  his 
•  direction . 

21  Peter  then  v/ent  down 
and  faid  to  the  melTeng-ers — 

o 


/-^£' Apostles.  ^ot 

I  am  the  perfon  yru  enquire 
for — What  caufe  hath  brought 
you  hither  ^ 

22  We  were  difpatched  to 
you,  they  replied,  by  Corne- 
lius, a  centurion,  a  man  of 
diilinguiihed  virtue,  a  de- 
vout worfhipper  of  God,  and 
univerfally  efteemed  by  the 
Jev/s,  who  hath  been  di- 
redied  by  an  angel  of  God 
to  fend  for  you  to  his  houfe 
and  to  receive  inftructions 
from  you. 

23  'Peter  invited  the  mef- 
fengers  into  the  honfe— v;here 
they  lods:yed  that  nio-ht— The 
next  morning  he  and  lome  of 
the  chriftians  at  Joppe,  {^t 
out  for  CKfarea; 

24  v^?here  they  arrived  the 
day  atter— -Cornelius  in  th-e 
mean  time  had  convened  his 
relations  and  his  moft  inti- 
mate friends  at  his  houfe,  and 
was  impatiently  waiting  their 
return  —  '  When  Peter  was 
now  advanced  within  a  little 
dulance  from  C.-Efarea,  one 
ot  the  fervants  ran  before  to 
acquaint  the  officer  of  his  ar- 
rival. 

25  The  centurion  receiv- 
ing this  information  imme- 
diately hafled  to  meet  him, 
and  proftrated  himfelf  at  his 
feet. 

26  But  Peter. railed  him. 


5  This  addition  is  in  the  beft  MSS.  and  is  the  gsnuine  reading,  as  ap- 
pears irom  ver.  27. 

Vol.  I.  D  d  faying 


fT^^  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap.  x. 


402 

faying — Pay  not  this  homage 
to  me — I  am  but  a  frail  mor- 
tal like  yourfelf. 

27  They  then  both  toge- 
ther entered  the  houfe,  en- 
gaged in  mutual  converfation 
—  where  Peter  found  a  large 
company  affembled, 

28  to  whom  he  then  ad- 
dreffed  himfelf  —  "  I  need 
not  acquaint  you  that  it  is 
deemed  unlawful  for  a  Jew 
to  form  connedtions  and  con- 
trad  intimacies  with  foreign- 
ers— but'  the  great  God  hath 
lately  admoniflied  me  to  think 
no  rational  being  ot  any  na- 
tion polluted  or  defiled. 

29  Accordingly  I  complied 
with  this  invitation  without 
the  leaft  hefitarion  —  I  beg, 
therefore,  to  know  the  rea- 
fon  that  induced  you  to  fend 
for  me. 

-30  Cornelius  then  faid  — 
*'  Four  days  ago  I  impofed 
upon  myfclf  a  religious  fail, 
which  1  kept  'till  about  this 
time  of  the  day  —  but  as  I 
was  engaged  in  the  private 
exercifc  of  prayer  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a 
celeftial  mefienger  in  an  hu- 
man form  and  in  a  robe  of 
ineffable  fplendor  Hood  be- 
fore me, 

3 1  and  thus  fpoke  —  Cor- 
ndius !  thy  prayer  is  accept- 


ed, and  the   benevolence  of 
thy  foul  is  grateful  to  God. 

32  The  Deity,  therefore, 
hath  deputed  me  to  bid  thee 
immediately  to  difpatch  a 
mefienger.  to  Joppe  and  lend 
for  one  Simon  who  is  firnam.- 
ed  Peter,  who  lodges  with 
one  Simon  a  tanner,  whofe 
houfe  is  fituated  by  the  fea 
fide  —  This  perfon  will  in- 
ftrudl  thee  in  thy  future  duty. 

33  I  then  inftantly  difpatch- 
ed  a  meffage  to  you,  and 
am  greatly  indebted  to  you 
for  your  ready  compliance 
with  my  invitation  —  We  all 
of  us  therefore,  who  are  now 
""  before  you,  are  afi^embled 
to  receive  the  inflrudlions 
God  hath  commiflioned  you 
to  deliver  to  us. 

34  Peter  then  with  great 
folemnity  thus  addrefled  him- 
felf to  the  company — "  I  am 
indeed  now  convinced  that 
the  Deity  is  no  refpedler  of 
perfons : 

35  But  that  in  every  nation 
of  the  world  the  fincerely  pi- 
ous and  virtuous  are  indifcri- 
minately  the  objefts  of  his 
love. 

Q,^  You  mull  needs  have 
heard  of  thofe  dovflrines  which 
God  lately  delegated  his  fon 
Jefus  the  Mefiiah  to  publilh 
among  the  Jews,  and  by  the 


"  See  MSS. 


glorious 


Chap.  X.       T!he  Act ^  of  the  Apostles 

glorious  revelation  of  which, 
he  gracioufly  intended  their 
virtue  and  '  happinefs 


This  iljufirious  mefTenger  is 
.  now  conflituted  by  the  Deity 
the    univerfal    governor    of 
mankind. 

37  You  know  that  thefe 
do6lrines,  which  after  John's 
public  baptifm  firji  began  to 
be  publifhed  in  Galilee,  were 
from  thence,  as  from  a  cen- 
ter, foon  diffufed  through  the 
whole  extent  of  Jud^a. 

38  The  perfon  who  deli- 
vered thefe  fublime  and  hea- 
venly truths  was  Jefus  of  Na- 
zareth— whom  God  invefted 
with  the  moil  fignal  powers 

' who  during  the  whole 

courfe  of  his  public  miniftry 
conftantly  went  about  doing 
beneficent  adions,  and  mi- 
raculoufiy  freeing  mankind 
from  the  mofb  dreadful  and 
inveterate  diforders  —  exhi- 
biting the  mod  ftrong  and 
llriking  evidences  that  his 
milTion  v/as  from  God. 

39  We  his  apoftles  were 
fpeftators  of  the  adions  he 
performed  both  in  Judasa  and 
in  the  metropolis  — You  can 
be  no  ftrangers  to  the  fate  of 
this  divine  perfon,  whom  the 
Jews  crucified  and  murdered. 

40  But  on  the  third  day 
after  his  crucifixion  God  rail 


403 

ed  him  from  the  grave,  and 
perm.itted  him  to  exhfbit  him- 
lelf  alive 

41  not  indeed  publickly 
to  tiie  zvorldy  but  to  ?.'j  his 
conftant    afibciates   and   the 

companions  of  his  life • 

whom  God  in  his  infinite  wif- 
dom  appointed  to  publifh  and 
atteft  the  fafts,  on  which  the 
truth  of  this  difpenfation  is 
fupported — With  him,  afler 
his  refurre(5tion  from  the  dead, 
we  freely  and  fam.iliariy  con- 
verled. 

42  And  he  commanded  us 
to  proclaim  to  the  v/orld,  and 
in  the  moft  folemn  manner  10 
affure  mankind.  That  he  is 
conftituted  by  the  Deity  the 
fupreme  judge  both  of  the 
living  and  of  the  dead. 

43  In  him  the  various  pre- 
diftions  of  the  antient  pro- 
phets all  center-^ and  attefl 
this  great  truth,  That  every 
one  who  believes  and  obeys 
his  relioion  lliall  thro'  his  me- 
diation  obtam  a  total  remif- 
fionofalltheirformercrimes." 

44  While  he  was  yet  fpeak- 
ing,  the  holy  fpirit  fell  in  co- 
pious cffufion  upon  all  the 
audience. 

45  At  this  circumftance 
the  jcwi/Ii  con^'e^ts,  wlio  had 
attended  Peter  in  this  jour- 
ney, were  loft  in  an  ccftafy  of 


'  E/pMVJir'.     Peace  in   the    Ilrhrew  idiom    denotes   happinefs,   and  very 
frequently  occurs  in  this  fcnie  in  the  N.  T. 

D  d  2  aftoniflimcnt 


^he  Acts  af  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xL 


404 

altonifliment — That  the  holy 
fpirit  fhould  be  e  ualU  im- 
parted to  the  Heathens ! 

46  being  amazed  beyond 
defcription  to  hear  them 
fpcaking  a  variety  of  lan- 
guages and  celebrating  the 
power  of  God  —  Peter  then 
faid  to  thofe  who  thus  tcfti- 
ficd  their  iurprize, 

47  Can  any  perfon  be  fo 
fcrupulous  as  to  exclude  thofe 
from  baptifni,  who  have  been 

•  favoured  with  the  gifts  of 
the  holy  fpirit  equally  v/ith 
ourfeives  ? 

48  He  th.en  ordered  them 

•  to  be  initiated  into  the  chrif- 
tian  faith  by  baptifm — After 
the  performance  of  this  rite 
they  begged  he  would  fpend 
a  few  days  with  them. 

C  H  A  P.    XI. 

I  ^'T^  H  E  fame  of  this  event 
-«•  loon  reached  the  other 
apoftles  and  the  chriilians  who 
were  in  Judsea,  that  even  the 
Heathens  had  embraced  the 
goiptl. 

2  Upon  Peter's  arrival, 
therefore,  in  Jerulalem,  the 
Jcji't/h  chriftians  v/armly  ex- 
poftulated  with  him, 

3  Saying — You  have  been 
familiarly  converfing  with  un 
circumcifed  Heathens  and  af- 
fociating  with  them. 

4  Peter,  finding  them  of- 
fended with  his  conduct,  re- 


counted to  them  a  circum- 
ftantial  detail  of  the  whole 
t  r  a  n  fad  io  n — fav  i  n  gr — 

5  *'  As  I  was  one  day  of- 
fering lip  my  private  devo- 
tions in  Joppe,  fuddenly  all 
my  faculties  were  fufpended, 

and  I  funk  into  a  trance 

in  which  the  following  Icene 

was  exhibited  before  me 

I  faw  from  the  clouds,  that 
fuddenly  fevered,  fomething 
like  a  large  fheet,  tied  at  the 
iour  corners,  defcend  towards 
me 'till  it  reclined  on  the  earth 
at  my  feet. 

6  This  attrafting  all  my 
attention  as  I  intenfely  view- 
ed it,  I  found  its  contents 
were  all  kinds  of  quadrupeds 
on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and 
every  fpecies  of  wild  beads, 
reptiles,  and  fowls. 

7  I  then  heard  the  following 
words  articulated  —  Peter  \ 
kill  and  eat  of  any  of  thefe 
creatures  before  thee  indiicri- 
minately. 

8  By  no  means.  Lord  I  I 
replied — for  I  have  ever  con- 
fcientioufly  refrained  from  e- 
very  fpecies  of  food  which  is 
unclean. 

9  The  heavenly  voice  then 
refumed — What  God  i)ath 
deemed  pure,  dare  not  thou 
to  pronounce  impure. 

10  This  was  repeated  three 
times — after  which  the  whole 
apparatus  was  conveyed  up 
into  heaven. 

II  Imme- 


chap.  xi.      'The  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


-  II  Immediately  after  this 
vifionary  fcene  difappeared, 
three  perfons,  who  were  de- 
puted to  me  from  Cs;rarea, 
were  making  enquiry  for  me 
at  the  houfe  where  1  lodged. 

12  That  inftant  I  was  di- 
refted  by  an  immediate  im- 
pulfe  of  the  fpirit  to  go  along 
with  them,  without  any  fcru- 
ple — accordingly  I  was  attend- 
ed by  thefe  fix  fellow  chriftians 
who  are  now  with  me,  and  we 
entered  the  officer's  lioufe. 

13  He  then  informed  us 
how  an  angel  had  appeared  to 
him  in  his  own  houfe  and 
directed  him  to  difpatch  a 
meffage  to  Joppe,  and  fend 
for  a  Deribn  whofe  name  was 
Simon. 

14  Adding  —  this  perfon 
will  give  youinftrudlions,  by 
a  compliance  with  which  you 
and  your  family  will  attain 
everlafting  felicity. 

15  Behold,  therefore,  in 
the  mjdfr  of  my  difcourfe  to 
them  the  holy  fpiiit  was  flied 
upon  thern  in  copious  effu- 
fion,  exadly  in  the  manner 
U  was  imparted  to  us  at  iirft. 

1 6  This  circumftance  made 
me  recclle6t  the  following  ex- 
preffion  of  our  Lord — "  John 
baptized  only  with  water,  but 
vou  fiiall  be  l)aptized  with 
the  holy  fpirit." 

17  Since,  therefore,  God 
hath  been  pleafed  to  impart 
to    thcni    the   fame  fpiritual 


gifts  as  he  commumcated  to 
us  who  believed  the  divine 
miffion  and  dodrines  of  his 
fon  Jefus  —  was  it  for  me  to 
limit,  and  prefcribe  to,  his  in- 
fallible wifdom." 

1 8  This  account  entirely 
difpelled  all  their  inquietude, 
and  they  unanimoufly  offered 
their  fervent  gratitude  to 
God,   laying   in  a   flood    of 

tranfport And  hath  God 

indeed,  of  his  infinite  be- 
nignity, extended  even  to  the 
Heathens  the  offer  of  a  blef- 
fed  immortality  upon  fm- 
cere  repentance  aiid  rcfor-^ 
mation  of  life  1 

§ — 1 9  The  chriftians,  who 
were  difperfed  from  Jerufa- 
lem  by  the  perfecution  tliat 
w^as  raifed  againil  them  after 
Stephen's  martyrdom,  mi- 
grated to  Piicsnicia,  to  Cy.- 
prus,  and  to  Antioch — but 
they  preached  the  gofpel  to 
7ione.^  except  Jews^ 

2G  but  there  were  fome  of 
thrje.  who  were  natives  of  Cy- 
prus and  Cyrene,  who  com- 
ing to  Antioch  attempted  to 
m.ake  converts  among  the 
Greeks  by  preaching  to  them 
th.e  chriitian  doelrines. 

21  And  this  their  attempt 
God  v/as  pleated  to  blefs  and 

fuccecd for   prodigious 

numbers  were  convinced  or 
the  truth  of  chriftianity  and 
embraced  it. 

22  The  fiine  of  thefc  nu- 


D  d 


mcious 


ne  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap.  xL 


406 

merous  converfions  reaching 
the  aHembly  of  chriftians  at 
Jerufaiem,  they  deputed  Bar- 
nabas to  go  to  Antioch. 

23  Upon  his  arrival,  when 
he  faw  the  happy  ftate  of 
thinas,  and  the  wonderful 
iliccefs  the  gofpel  had  provi- 
dentialh'  met  with,  he  was 
tranfported  with  joy,  and  im- 
portunately exhorted  all  the 
converts  to  adhere  immove- 
ably  to  the  chriilian  prin- 
ciples. 

24  This  Barnabas  was  a' 
perfon  of  diftinguifhed  good- 
nefs,  a  warm  advocate  for 
chriftianity,  and  eminently 
favoured    with  fpiritual  gifts 

His  amiable  character 

and  endowments,  therefore, 
•were  the  means  of  very  con- 
ilderable  numbers  adopting 
the  doftrines  of  the  gol- 
pel. 

25  Here  happening  to  be 


informed  that  Saul  was  at 
Tarfus  he  purpofeiy  wene 
thither  in  fearch  of  him  — - 
when  he  had  met  with  him 
he  brought  him  to  Antioch. 

26  In  this  city  they  conti-: 
nued  an  whole  year — forming 
the  converts  into  a  fociety, 
and  inftru6ling  a  very  confi- 
derable  body  in  the  dodlrinci 
of  the  gofpel — and  thefe  two, 
while  in  Antioch,  firft  gave 
the  profeffors  of  the  gofpel, 
by  a  "'  divine  direflion,  the 
denomination  of  Chriftians. 

§ — 27  In  the  mean  time 
while  Saul  and  Barnabas  were 
thus  employed,  fome  perfons^ 
whom  God  had  feen  fit  to  en- 
dow with  prophetic  gifts, 
came  down  to  Antioch. 

28  One  of  thefe,  whofe 
name  was  Agabus,  rofe  up 
in  the  aflembly,  and  by  a  di- 
vine impulfe  predifted  a 
dreadful    famine,    by  which 


">  Xpi'utfT/Trf'.  This  word,  in  all  the  places  in  which  it  occurs  in 
the  N.  T.  figniiies  to  inform,  denominate,  declare,  I)  a  divine  direflion. 
Confult  Mitth.  ii.  12.  22.  Luke  ii.  26.  Afts  x.  22.  Rom.  vii.  3.  Heb. 
viii.  5.  Chap.  xi.  7.  Chap.  xii.  25.  In  the  Greek  clalTics  it  figniiies  to 
deliver  the  oracular  refponfe,  and  very  frequently  to  /peak  authoritatively, 
as  princes,  generals,  magiflrates,  to^r/'-x'fl/f  pcrlons.  "  When  the  fenatc 
waited  upon  Cfrfar,  ht /poke  to  them  as  private  perfons,  •/:»"./' T/Tci':'' 
Plutarch  C^/ar.  p.  1350.  Cleopatra  appeared  in  public  clad  in  the  ftole 
of  IJis,  and  Jolemnly  called  herfelf  young  Ijis,  ^ypn!j.a.Ti(^i.  Plutarch  An- 
tony, p.  1723.  Edit-  Gr.  Stephen.  8vo.  Jntigonus  delivering  his  fenti- 
ments  concerning  v/Kat  was  future,  yjt) p. at i'Jcc  PclyH::!,  p.  139' 
Annibal  /^o-{-^  with  the  ambafladors,  £>p«/x<AT/(^?,  ib.  p."21>^.  King 
Philip  having  fpoke  with  the  Ach^am,  ytvfjj.'a.-r \ 7 sx ,  p.  297.  He  blamed 
him  for  aiTuming  the  diad;.m  and  calling  himfelf  kinq;,  Cat'/iXfci  ypnuATi- 
^s/-,  p.  401.  lie  affumed  the  crown  and  daied  xd  Jiik  himfelf  king. 
Poljhins,    p.  401.      Edit.  Hdapv.  1619. 

the 


Oiap.  xii.      The  Acts  of  th^  Avq^tl-es^ 


the  whole  extent  of  "  Jud^a 
would  be  miferably  haraiTed 
——Accordingly,  this  famine 
ijivaded  Judsea  in  the  time  of 
the  emperor  Claudius. 

29  In  confequence  of  this 
predidion  thofe  of  the  chrii- 
tians  who  were  in  affluent 
circumdances  mutually  a- 
greed  to  raife  a  contribution 
for  the  fupport  of  their  fellow 
chriilians  in  Judaea. 

30  'i'his  generous  fchemc 
tJiey  carried  into  execution — 
and  fent  the  money,  that  was 
colledted,  by  Barnabas  and 
Saul,  to  be  depofited  in  the 
hands  of  the  fenior  chriilians. 


CHAP.   XII. 


BOUT  this  time  king 
Herod  Agrippa  raif- 
ed  a  perfecution  againft  the 
chriilians,  and  apprehended 
and  diftrelTed  feverai  of  their 
fociety. 

2  James  the  brother  of 
John  he  feized  and  beheaded^ 

3  And  feeing  that  thefe 
violent  mealures  ao;ainfl  the 
chriilians  rendered  him  ex- 
tremely popular  among  the 
Jews,  he  caufed  Peter  alfo  to 
be  apprehended  during  the 
fellival  of  unleavened  bread.}  J 


4  This  apollle,  therefore,.]  hands,  j: 


was  by  his  order  confined  in 
the  public  prifon,  and  Ilricftly 
committed  to  the  cullody  of- 
no  lefs  than  fixteen  foldiers— r-]^ 
He  intendeds  after  the  paf- 
chul  Iblemnity  was  over,  to 
convene  a  general  alTembly  of 
the  people,  to  bring  him  out 
before  them  and  publickly 
execute  him. 

5  In  this  manner  Peter  lay 

confined  and  guarded for, 

whofe  deliverance  and  fafety 
the  chriilians  interceded  with 
God  by  unremitting  and  mod 
fervent  fupplications.  ~"^ 

6  But  when  the  time  ap-. 
proacl>ed  in  which  Herod  in- 
tended to  gratify  the  Jews 
with  his  execution,  in  the 
night  which  preceded  the 
day  he  had  fixed  for  it,  as 
Peter  was  ileeping  in  foft  com- 
pofure  between  two  foldiers  to 
whom  he  was  refpedlively 
chained  by  two  fhackles,^and 
the  jail-keepers  were  on  duty 
at  the  prilbn  gate — 

7  lo !  an  angel  of  God 
fuddenly  appeared  !  and  an 
imm.enfe  lightdartedjts  fplen- 
dors  around  his  cell-| — The 
heavenly  meflenger  then  a- 
woke  him,  faying — Rife  this 
moment! — That  inilant  the 
fliackles    dropped    from    his 


"  OiKxu'vi]  is  twice  ufed  to  fignify  only  tlie  land  o{  Judeca  ;  'here,  and 
Lcuke  xxi.  26.  Jofephus  mentions  the  famine  here  predided,  as  opprel- 
imiJudcca  in  the  reign  of  Claudius.    Ant.  2.  c.  2.   §  6.  and  c.  4  §  2. 

D  d  4  8  The 


40^ 


l^he  Acts  of  the  x^ p o st l e-s .     Gha p ^  xi u 


8  The  angel  then  added — 
Gird  the  cloaths,  in  which 
you  lie,  about  you,  and  tie 
on  your  fandals — This  done, 
he  laid,  Put  on  your  upper 
garment,  and  follow  me. 

9  He  followed  him — but 
was   not   conKious   that  this 

was  a  real  tranfadlion he 

imagined  it  only  a  vifionary 
i^ii-Vi^  exhibited  to  him  in  a 
dream. 

10  After  paffing  the  firfl 
and  fecond  watch  they  arriv- 
ed at  the  great  iron  gate 
which  fronts  the  public  ftreet 
—  this  fpontaneouOy  opened 
to  receive  them — they  pafTed 
through,  and  went  together 
the  length  of  one  ftreet — af- 
ter which  the  angel  fuddenly 
vanilhed. 

1 1  Peter,  being  now  con- 
fcious  that  the  fcene  was  real, 
faid  in  pious  aftoniHiment — 
Now  I  am  indeed  convinced 
that  God  hath  been  pleafed  to 
depute  an  angel  to  extricate 
me  from  Herod's  povv'er,  and 
to  fruilrate  all  the  eager  ex- 
pe6lation  and  fanguinary  de- 
llji-ns  of  the  Tews. 

12  He  then  v;cnt  dire«.'^ly 
to  the  houfe  of  Mary  the  mo- 
ther of  John  firnamed  Mark 
— where  a  confiderable  num- 
ber of  the  chriftians  had  ap- 
pointed to  meet,  and  were 
then  praying. 

13  Knocking  at  the  gate  a 
f,r\'ant  maid,    called  Rhoda, 


■went  to  the  door  to  enquire 
Jthe  perfon's  name. 
i  14  She  knowing  his  voice, 
'in  a  flood  of  tranfport  did  not 
flay  to  open  the  door,  but 
flew  to  the  company,  and 
told  them  that  Peter  v/as  Hand- 
ing at  the  gate. 

15  It  is  madnefs  to  afTert 
any  fuch  thing,  they  faid — . 
She  peremptorily  declarecj 
and  perfifted  in  it,   that  flie 

was  fare  it  was  him they 

then  faid  it  muft  be  a  melfen- 
ger  from  him. 

16  Peter  in  the  mean  time 

continued  knockins;. .but 

when  they  opened  the  door, 
and  faw  it  was  him,  they 
were  loft  in  an  ccftacy  of  a- 
ftonifhment. 

17  Pie  made  a  motion  tQ 
them  with  his  hand  to  be 
filent  —  and  after  informing 
them  how  an  angel  of  God- 
had  delivered  him  out  of  pri- 
fon,  ordered  them  to  acquaint 
James  and  the  other  chriftians 
Vk'ith  this  miraculous  event-— 
Having  faid  this  he  went  a- 
way,  and  retired  to  another 
place. 

I S  The  next  morninp:  there 
was  a  great  hubbub  and  con- 
fufion  among  the  foldiers 
who  were  appointed  his 
guards,  what  was  become  of 
i-'etcr. 

19  Herod,  after  making 
a  diligent  but  fruitlefs  fearch 
for  liim.  called  up  the  keep- 
ers 


Chap.  xii.     l!'he  Acrrs  of 

ers  of  the  prilbn,  and  order- 
ed them  all  to  be  executed — 
After  this  he  quitted  Judsea 
and  fixed  his  refidence  at  Cs- 
farea. 

20  The  reafon  of  his  re- 
moval to  this  city  was  the 
violent  reientmen'ts  he  had 
now  conceived  againft  the 
Tyrians  and  Sidonians — But 
thefe  two  opulent  ftates,  hav- 
ing afterwards  procured  his 
chamberlain  Blaftus  to  under- 
take their  caufe,  waited  up- 
on him  in  a  fupplicant  man- 
ner and  folicited  peace ;  be- 
ing induced  to  this  ftep  by  a 
confcioufnefs  that  their  terri- 
tories derived  the  fupports  of 
life  from  the  king's  domi- 
nions. 

§ — 21  This  Herod  Agrip- 
pa  on  occafion  of  a  grand  fo- 
lemn  feftivai  arrayed  himfelf 
in  a  royal  and  moft  magnifi- 
jcent  drefs — and  mounting  a 
throne  erefted  for  him  made  1 
a  fpeech  to  the  aflembled 
multitude. 


t/je  Apostles. 


409 


22  This  he  had  no  fooner 
concluded,  but  the  populace 
raifed  an  univcrfal  acclamati- 
on--  repeating  —  "  It  is  the 
voice  of  a  God  and  not  of  a 
mortal." 

2^  °  That  moment  the  an- 
gel of  God  fmote  him  with  a 
dreadful  and  incurable  difeafe 
for  that  impious  arrogance 
and   pride    with   which    his 

heart  was  now  inflated 

He  was  devoured  alive  with 
p  worms,  and  died  in  the  moft 
excruciating  torments. 

24  After  his  deceafe  chrif^ 

tianity  flouriflied and  the 

number  of  converts  was  con- 
tinually augmenting. 

§ — 25  Barnabas  and  Saul 
after  having  faithfully  dif- 
charged  the  truft  that  was  re- 
pofed  in  them  with  regard  to- 
the  charitable  colledion  for 
the  fupport  of  the  chriflians 

in  JudjEa when  they  had 

paid  it  into  the  hands  of  the 
fenior  chriflians,  quitted  Je- 
rufalem taking  with  them 


°  The  (hocking  death  of  this  infolent  creature  is  minutely  defcribed  in 
all  its  circumliances  by  Jofephus.  See  Antiq.  L.  19.  c.  8.  §  2.  Edit.  Hud^ 
J^cn.  His  arrogance  and  his  end  remind  one  of  the  unhappy  exit  of  Cra-fus. 
"  Divine  vengeance,  faith  Herodotus,  overtook  Crcejus,  becaufe  he  proudly 
imagined  himfelf  to  have  reached  the  higheft  fummit  of  human  oran- 
deur  and  felicity  :  For  the  pinnacle  of  mortal  glory,  which  many  pile  {o- 
high,  God  fubverts  from  its  loweft  foundations.  Herodoi.  Gr,  U  Lat, 
Vol.  i,   p.  JO.     Edit.  Gla/g.  lj6i. 

P  His  grandfather  Herod  died  in  the  fame  fliocking  manner.  He  was 
excruciated  with  dire  pains  in  his  bowels  and  an  ulcer  which  bred  worms. 
Jofeph  Ant.  L.  17.  c.  6.  §  5.  Hud/on.  P^.vrtima  alfj,  in  Hcrodatus,  was 
devoured  alive  with  worms.  'C^kta  i'J7^i(ov  ic,i^i<Ji.  Hirod.  Vol,  iv.  p. 
358.     G%. 


John 


4IO  ne  Acts  of  the  Apostles.      Chap.  xliH 

John  firnamed  Mark  to  be 
the  companion  of  their  la- 
bours. 


Chap.  xiii.  i  In  the  fo- 
ciety  of  Chriftians  that  was 
cilablifhed  at  Antioch,  whi- 
ther Saul  and  Barnabas  now 
returned,  there  were  fome 
perfons  who  were  endowed 
with  prophetic  gifts,  and  o- 
thers,  who  were  qualified  to 
be  public  inftrud:ors — Thofe 
who  v/ere  thus  eminently  dif- 
tinguifhed  with  thefe  fpiritu- 
al  powers  were  Barnabas,  Si- 
meon called  alfo  Nio-er,  Lu- 
cius  a  native  of  Cyrene,  Ma- 
nahcn,  who  had  been  educat- 
ed along  with  Herod  the  te- 
trarch,  and  Saul. 

2  As  thefe  were  one  day 
engaged  in  the  exercifes  of 
devotion,  and  obferving  a  re- 
ligious fail,  they  were  direft- 
€d  by  an  immediate  impulfe 
of  the  holy  fpirit  to  feleft  from 
among  them  Barnabas  and 
Saul,  and  folemnly  dedicate 
them  to  that  important  fer- 
vice,  for  the  difcharge  of 
which  God  had  particularly 
appointed  them. 

3  Immediately  they  obey- 
ed the  divine  call — and  after 
they  had  faded,  prayed,  and 
laid  their  hands  upon  them, 
they  difmifled  them  to  preach 
the  gofpel. 

4  I'hefe  two,  who  were 
thus  exprefsly  fegregated  cut 

5 


of  the  fociety  and  deputed  by 
the  holy  fpirit  to  propagate 
chriftianity,  went  firft  to  Se- 

leucia and  from  this  city 

crofled  over  to  the  ifle  of  Cy- 
prus. 

5  On  their  arrival  they 
preached  in  the  Jewifli  fyna- 
gogues  at  Salamis  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gofpel. 

6  They  then,  attended  by 
their  afTociate  John,  traverfed 
the  ifle  as  far  as  Paphos  — 
where  they  met  with  a  Jewifh 
impoilor  called  Barjefus, 
who  boafted  his  fkill  in  magic 
arts. 

7  This  impoftor  was  along 
with  Sergius  Paulus  the  pro- 
conlul,  a  rational  and  intelli- 
gent perfon,  who  fent  an  invi- 
tation to  Barnabas  and  Saul, 
and  defired  they  would  favor 
him  with  an  account  of  their 
principles. 

8  But  Elymas,  whofe 
name  in  Greek  fignifies  Ma- 
gician, publickly  oppofed 
them — ftudying  to  divert  the 
proconful  from  his  intention 
to  embrace  the  chriftian  reli- 
gion. 

9  But  Saul,  who  afiumed 
alfo  the  name  of  Paul,  fixing 
his  eyes  intenlely  upon  the 
impoftor,  and  being  inftantly 
feized  with  the  divine  afi^atus, 

10  faid  to  him  —  O  thou 
profligate  and  abandoned 
creature  !  whofe  heart,  I  am 
confciousj    is  full  of  fraud, 

diffimu- 


Chap.  xiii.     T^^e  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


diRimulation,  an.d  the  moft 
diabolical  wickednefs  —  Dofl 
thou  ftili  perfjft  in  afperfing 
and  coupterading  the  divine 
Icheme  which  infinite  wifdom 
hath  planned  ? 

11  Behold!  tPie  hand  of 
that  Being;  whom  ihou  infult- 
eft  Iliai]   this   moment  ftriKe 

thee and  thou  fhalt  be  in- 

ftantly  punifhed  wi>"h  a  tem- 
porary deprivation  of  thy 
fight— He  had  no  foo'ner  pro- 
nounced the  words,  I -.it  the 
impoftor's  eyes  were  clofed  in 
total  darknels,  and  he  grop- 
ed about  on  all  fides  to  lay 
hold  on  fomething  to  fuppcrt 
his  fteps. 

12  The  proconful  feeing 
this  amazing  event  was  ftruck 
with  the  laft  aftonifhment, 
and  embraced  ^  the  chriftian 
do6lrine. 

§—13  Paul  and  his  com- 
panions afterwards  embarked 
on  board  a  vefiel  at  Paphos 
and  landed  at  Perge  in  Pam- 
phylia — Plere  John  left  them 
and  returned  to  Jerufalem« 

14  But  the  other  travelled 
from  Perge  toAntioch  in  Pi- 
fidia  •—  where  they  went  into 
the  Jewilh  fynagogue  and  fat 
dpv/n. 

7biJ5  Here  after  a  portion  of 
the  law  and  the  prophets  was 
read,  the  prefidents  of  the  fy- 


411 

gogue  fent  to  them  —  beg- 
ging, If  they  could  impart 
any  thing  that  might  contri-. 
bute  to  the  inftrudion  and  e- 
dification  of  the  audience, 
they  would  deliver  it. 

16  Upon  this  Paul  ftood 
up,  and  making  a  motion 
with  his  hand,  thus  addrelfed 
the  affembly — "  Ye  Ifraelites 
and  devout  v/orfliippers  of 
the  true  God  !  let  me  crave 
your  candid  and  ferious  atten- 
tion to  the  truths  I  iliall  now 
deliver. 

1 7  The  fupreme  God,  the 
merciful  guardian  and  pro- 
te61or  of  our  nacion,  moil 
highly  diftinguifhcd  our  iiluf- 
trious  anceftors  with  his  fa- 
vour, publickly  beftovved  up- 
Oil  their  defcendents  many 
fignal  bieffings,  during  their 
reiidence  in  Egypt,  and  from 
their  fervitude  here  vindicated 
them  into  liberty  by  a  feries 
of  the  moft  aftonilliing  mi- 
racles. 

1 8  God  alfo,  after  their  e- 
migration,  miraculoufiy  '  fup- 
plied  them  with  the  necef- 
faries  of  life  in  the  dreary  de- 
ferts  of  Arabia  during  a  pc 
riod  oi forty  years. 

19  After  this,  under  the 
fpecial  condud  of  divine  pro- 
vidence, they  overturned  fe- 
ven  different  communities  in 


^  Et/  th  J^i^ef^yi  h  governeJ  on  sT/r^t'Tsj',  not  on  iKTMi^cmwtV©-. 
^  ETpoco^opHfjsi  J  which  the  belt  MSS.  exhibit^  is  the  genuine  leCtion. 

the 


412  T/jeAcTS'of  f/je  A?0STLi&^s.     Chap.  xiii. 

the  land  of  Canaan,  and  diflii- 


buted,  by  lot,  their  territories 
among  their  refpective  tribes. 

20  They  were  then  tor 
four  hundred  and  fifty  years 
'till  Samuel's  time,  governed 
hy  Judges^  whom  God  raifed 
and  empowered  to  fupcrin- 
tend  them. 

2 1  They  being  afterwards 
defirous  of  reo-al  o-ovcrnment, 
he  placed  over  them  Saul  the 
Ion  of  Kifli,  of  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin,  who  was  forty 
years  old  at  his  eledion. 

2  2  After  his  removal,  Da- 
vid was  providentially  ap- 
pointed their  fovereign  —  to 
v/hofe    charader   God    bears 

this  tefiimony "  I  have 

I'clefted  David,  the  fon  of 
Jefie,  to  be  their  king— —-a 
perfon,  whofe  conduct,  as  a 
prince,  will  fecure  my  ap- 
probation, and  who  will,  in 
his  political  capacity,  fully 
execute  all  my  defigns." 

23  From  the  defcendents 
of  this  illuflrious  monarch 
hath  God,  according  to  his 
promife,  been  mercifully 
pleafed  to  raife  up  to  Ifrael 
the  great  Redeemer — who  was 
the  late  Jefus  of  Nazareth. 

24  Tlie  advent  of  this  divine 
perfon  John  the  BaptiR  predic- 
i^x\^  and  puhiickty  proclaim- 
ed to  the  whole  Jewifii  nation 
— declaring  himfclf  to  be  ap- 


pointed of  God  to  prepare 
men  for  the  Weption  of  this 
great  prophelt  by  the  baptifm 
of  repentance  he'publickly  ad- 
mini  fired.     ) 

25  John,'  '  while  he  was 
fulfilling  the  office  that  provi- 
dence had  affigifd  him,  ufed 
conflantly  to  addrefs  himfeif 
to  the  people,  who  reforted 

to  him,  and  fay  to  them . 

Whom  do  you  imagine  me  to 
be  ?  —  I  afiure  you  I  am  not 
the  perfon  you  expeft —  but 
let  me  folemnly  declare  to 
you.  That  I  am  the  harbin- 
ger of  a  moft  dignified  and 
exalted  perfon,  to  whom  I  am 
r,ot  worthy  to  (loop  and  do 
the  meanell  office. 

26  My  brethren  !  my  fel- 
low defcendents  from  Abra- 
ham !  and  ye  devout  wor- 
fliippers  of  the  true  God  ! 
fuifer  me  to  aiTure  you.  That 
this  prophet  was  lent,  and' 
thefe  doctrines  publiffied  for 
your  fiilvation  and  happinefs :  • 

27  becaufe  the  Sanhedrim, 
and  citizens  of  Jerufalem  be- 
ing wilfully  ignorant  of  the 
dignity  of  his  perfon,  con- 
demned him  to  fuf[er  capital 
punifhment — but  he  hereby 
Fulfilled  the  exprefs  predieti- 
ons  of  thole  prophets  which 
are  every  fabbath  read  in 
their  religious  aflemblies. 

2S  And  fo  implacably  in- 


*  Df  Xi  £tAi)o». 


cenfed 


Chap .  xlii.     l^he  Acts  of 

cenfed  were  they  againfl  his 
perfon,  that  tho'  upon  the 
Itrideft  exammation  they' 
found  his  charafter irreproach- 
able, and  perfedlly  free  from 
any  guilt  that  deler  ved  death — \ 
yet  by  their  inflexible  impor- 
tunity they,  at  laft,  prevailed 
upon  Pilate  to  condemn  himi 
to  be  executed.  ' 

29  After  they  had  by  this 
public  murder  accompliflied 
the  fcripture  prophecies,  they 
took  him  from  the  crofs,  and 
interred  his  dead  body  in  a 
tomb  adjacent. 

30  But  by  the  power  of 
God  he  was  raifed  from  the 
dead, 

3 1  and  for  a  confiderable 
number  of  days  he  exhibited 
himfelf  alive  to  his  compa- 
nions and  friends,  who  had 
attended  him  in  his  laft  jour- 
ney from  Galilee  to  the  capi- 
tal—  who  were  convinced  of 
the  identity  of  his  perfon, 
and  who  are  public  witnelfcs 
to  the  world  of  the  truth  of 
his  refurreftion. 

32  We  therefore  proclaim 
among  you  the  joyful  news, 
That  the  fignal  promife,  which 
God  folemnly  made  and  rati- 
fied with  our  anceftors,  lie 
hath  now  moft  illuftrioufly 
uccompliflied  in  the  prefcnt 

^  rsi'?A   is   governed  on   the  prepontlon  «f  underHocd,  and  ^bAji  put 
In  its  proper  conftrudion  with  t/7r»p5Ti)(?"«i. 

whom 


the  Apostl'e^.  413 

day,  by  raifing  Jefus  the' 
MeiTiah  from  the  dead. 

33  The  prediction  in  the 
fecond  Pfalm  is  now  fulfilled 
—  "  Thou  art  my  fon  !  this 
day  have  I  informed  thee 
with  new  life  and  immorta- 
lity." 

34  And  to  this  great  c- 
vent  of  his  refurredlion  from 
the  dead  and  his  ■peculiar  ex- 
emption from  the  general  law 
of  mortality,  alludes  the  fal- 
lowing pafiage  of  the  prophet 
liaiah  —  "  For  you  will  I  ac- 
com.plifli  all  the  conditions  of 
that  everlafting  covenant, 
v/hich  I  have  made  with  the 
houfe  of  David.'' 

35  This  is  alfo  clearly  pre- 

difted  in  another  paffage - 

"  Thou  wilt  not  fuffer  the 
dead  body  of  thy  beloved  fon 
to  fuffer  the  comm.on  cor- 
ruption." 

0^6  This  laft  paflage  cannot 
refer  to  David~for  after  this 
illuRrious  prince  had  '^  in  his 
generation,  fcrved  the  v/ill  of 
God,  he  paid  the  common 
debt  to  nature — his  body  was 
depofited  in  the  grave,  and 
reduced  to  its  primitive  duft. 

0^"]  The  exemption,  there- 
fore, from  the  putrefa6lion 
of  the  grave  here  mentioned 
can  fokly  relate  to  that  perfon 


414  ^^^  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap,  xili, 

will  produce  events  To  inex- 
prefTibly  dire  and  dreadful, 
that  fhould  a  perlon  give  you 
a  dillinft  detail  of  them,  he 
would  not  gain  your  credit"^." 

42  He  ended  —  and  the 
Jews  going  out  of  the  fyna- 
gogue,  the  Heathens  who 
llaid  behind,  came  to  him, 
and  begged  he  would  dif- 
courle  to  them  on  the  fame 
fubjedt  before  the  enfuing 
fabbath. 

43  After  the  aflembly  broke 
up  leveral  of  the  Jews  and  de- 
vout profelytes  followed  Paul 
and  Barnabas — to  thefe  they 
propounded  and  explained 
the  chriftian  doctrines,  and 
induced  them  to  embrace  this 
divine  difpenlation.  ■ 

§ — 44  *  The  fame  of  the 
above  tranfaftion  being  dif- 
fufed  through  the  city,  al- 
moft  the  whole  town  was  af- 


whom  God  thus  raifed  from 
the  grave. 

38  Be  ye  alio  afilired,  my 
brethren,  that  we  are  autho- 
rized to  proclaim  to  the 
world  through   this  perfon's 

-mediation  a  free  and  uni- 
verfal  remilfion  of  all  pafl: 
fins  upon  fmcere  repentance 
and  reformation  of  life. 

39  Every  one,  therefore, 
who  is  convinced  of  the  truth 

•of  his  doctrines,  and  refolves 
to  conform  to  it,  is  from  that 
moment  "  acquitted  from  all 
thofe  crimes,  -from  the  guilt 
of  which  the  law  did  not  and 
could  not  exempt  you. 

40  Rejed  not,  I  befeech 
•you,  the  gracious  propofals 
that  are   now    importunately 

-offered  to  you,  left  you  pro- 
voke God  to  inPiict  upon 
you  thofe  terrible  calamities, 
which  he  hath  denounced  a- 
'gainft  the  difobedient  in  the 
following  paffage  of  fcrip- 
ture. ' 

41  "  Behold,  O  ye  con- 
temptuous deipifers  of  reli- 
gion, the  miieries  that  are  im- 
pending over  your  heads  ! 
View  them  with  aftonifhment 
— for  in  thefe  you  fhall  be  in- 
volved—  For  in  your  days  I 


fembled  together  on  the  en- 
luing  fabbath  to  hear  the 
doftrines  of  chriftianity, 

45  The  Jev^s  feeing  this 
immenfe  multitude  collefled 
together,  were  inftantly  fired 
with    rage    and    indignation 

and  publickly  oppofed 

the  dodrines  that  Paul  had 
advanced  —  proceeding,    at 


^  The  Deity  was  pleafed,  at  the  firji  propagation  of  the  gofpcl,  to 
publifh  to  the  world  an  univerfal  panlvn,  a  general  amucfty,  of  all  fajl 
Jins  to  all  finccre  converts.  This  is  the  true  grand  fcriptural  idea  intended 
to  be  conveyed  ^'>y  jnfiify  2l\\^  jvflificaticn. 

*  Meaning  the  dcllruilion  oi  Jcrufnlem  by  the  Romans. 

»  See  the  various  kdions  in  Dr.  Mill. 

laft. 


Chap.  xiv.     The  Acts  of 

laft,  to  the  moft  indecent  and 
opprobrious  calumnies. 

46  To  this  torrent  of  a- 
bufe  Paul  and  Barnabas  with 
undaunted  freedom  and  fpirit 
thus  replied  — -  "  It  was  ne- 
ceflary  in  the  order  of  the 
divine  djfpenfations  that  to 
you  Jews  the  doftrines  of 
chriftianity  fhould  firft  be 
propofed  —  but  fince  you  re- 
je6l  them,  and  by  your  con - 
du6t  fhow  yourfelves  unwor- 
thy of  that  eternal  life  which 
it  reveals  and  offers  to  you 
—  behold  !  we  fhall  for  the 
future  addrefs  ourfelves  to 
the  Heathens. 

47  For  fo  hath  God  ex- 
prefsly  enjoined  us  to  do  by 
the  prophet  —  "I  have  ap- 
pointed thee  to  illuminate 
the  dark  and  benighted  Hea- 
thens with  thy  beams,  and  to 
diffufe  falvation  and  happi- 
nefs  to  the  extremities  of  the 


globe.' 


48  Hearing  thefe  expref- 
fions  the  Heathens  were  tranf- 
ported   with  joy   and   pious 

gratitude  to  God and  as 

many  of  them,  as  ^  were  dif- 
pofcd  for  eternal  life,  imme- 


the  Apostles.  415 

diately  embraced  the  chriftian 
religion. 

49  So  that  chriftianity 
fpread  with  great  rapidity 
throughout  the  whole  ad- 
jacent country. 

50  But  the  Jews  inftigated 
fome  ladies  of  diftindtion  and 
charafter  and  the  leading 
men  of  the  town,  and  com- 
mencing a  violent  perfecu- 
tion  againft  Paul  and  Barna- 
bas, forced  them  to  fly  out 
of  their  country. 

5 1  Accordingly  thefe  two, 
when  they  left  their  territo- 
ries, fhook  off  the  duft  of 
their  feet  as  a  public  telli^ 
mony  to  them  of  their  ob- 
ftinacy  and  impenitence,  and 
travelled  to  Iconium. 

c,2  But  the  converts  they 
had  made  here,  during  their 
ftay,  were  infpired  with  the 
mofb  pure  and  facred  joy,  and 
were  favoured  with  an  effu- 
fion  of  the  holy  fpirit, 

CHAP.    XIV. 

I    I"  T  P  O  N  their  arrival  at 
^  Iconium  they  went  in- 
to the  Jewifli  fynagogue,  and 


y  TetTau,  me)(.ti.r(tC(Tu,  tt^vriraccv^  avTirret^'trefa-iTcc,  arc  military 
terms,  and  denote  the  difpcfmg  and  mnrfialiuig  an  army.  In  this  feiiii: 
Tftaau  is  ufed  in  almoftever)'  page  in  Xenophon,  Diccicrus  Siculus,  Pqlybius, 
Julian,  and  other  Greek  Hiltorians  :  7a;  •ToA5/y./Kj  TSTst^uejB?.  Xen. 
Cyr.  In.  p.  39.  nrctyrMvoic  toi?  cravra  arctKim  Kay-Cei  iii>.  70.  ciir  ua.yjw 
T'TctyuiVKi  148.  Hutchin.  to  J'i  «(/  oThoii  «T/  7?rcfyiiii'cv.  Plutarch 
Jnto>y.  ib(^0.    EJit.  Siqh.Gv.%xo.     Zqq  3^0  Luke  \'Vi.  i. 

preached 


^he  Acts  of  the  Ap o-s T l  je s .    Chap.- xiVv 

6  the  two  apoftles-receiv<- 
ing  information  of  thi's  conr* 
fpiracy  againft  their  lives, 
quitted  the  city,  and  fled  to 
Lyftra  and  Derbe,  towns  in 
Lycaonia  : 

7  In  which,  and  other  ad- 
jacent places,  they  publiftied 
the  goipel. 

§ — 8  As  Paul  was  preach- 
ing at  Lyftra  there  fat  among 
the  audience  an  helplefs  ob- 
jed,  a  man  who  had  beed^ 
lame  from  his  birth. 

9  This  perlbn  gav€  great 
attention  to  what  he  deliver- 
ed-  which  Paul  at  length 

obferving,  he  fixed  his  eyes 
intenfely  upon  him,  and  be- 
ing conlcious  he  was  poireffed 
of  fuch  a  degree  of  faith  as 
qualified  him  to  receive  a  mi- 
raculous cure, 

10  immediately  turned  to 
him  and  faid — Rife  and  Hand 

ere6l ! That  moment  he 

fprung   from  the  ground  in  ^ 
perfedt  vigour,  and  walked. 

1 1  The  crovyd,  that  v/as 
now  alfembled,  feeing  this 
amazing  fpeifiacle,  all  cried 
out,  in  extreme  afroiiilhmenr, 
in  the  Lycaonian  language — 
"  The  immortal  gods,  dif- 
guifed  in  ^  human  form,  have 
deigned  to  vifit  us  !'* 

ii    Accorciingly  they  re- 


416 

preached  the  chriftian  doc- 
trines with  fuch  energy  as  to 
induce  a  very  confiderable 
number  both  of  Jews  and 
Greeks  to^ embrace  them. 

2  But  that  party  of  the 
Jews,  who  difbelieved  thefe 
do6lrines,  pradlifed  every 
method  to  inflame  and  exaf- 
perate  the  heathens  againft 
the  chriftians. 

3  But  notwithftanding  their 
implacable  animofity,  the  a- 
poftles  refided  a  confiderable 
time  in  the  tov/n,  deliverinp- 
the  principles  of  the  chriftian 
religion  with  invincible  free- 
dom and  intrepidity and 

God  was  pleafed  to  confirm 
the  do6trines  they  taught  by 
enabling  them  to  perform 
many  fignal  and  aftonifliing 
operations. 

4  In  the  mean  time  a  warm 
diflention  arofe  among  the  ci- 
tizens— one  party  efpoufing 
the  caufe  of  the  infidel  Jews, 
the  other  tlie  caufe  of  the  a- 
poftles. 

5  But  when  the  heathen 
maQ-iftrates  and  the  Tews  of 
the  contrary  fide  carried  their 
oppofition  and  refentments  to 
fuch  violence  as  to  confede- 
rate too-ether  and  unanimouf- 
ly  form  a  determined  refolu- 
tion  to  infult  and  ftone  them, 


*  This  was  agreeable  to  the  Heathen  Mythology. 

Summo  delabor  Oiynipo, 

Et  dcus  huniana  lullro  fub  imagine  terras.     OviJ.  Mtt.  1.  212. 

cog^nifed 


Chap,  xivo     nt  Acts  of 

cognifed  *  Jupiter  in  Barna- 
bas, and  *  Mercury  in  Paul, 
becaule  of  his  llipericiur  elo- 
quence. 

13  The  prieft,  therefore, 
of  Jove,  whom  they  Worlhip- 
ped  as  the  guardian  of  their 
city,  and  whofe  temple  flood 
a  little  way  out  of  the  town, 
immediately  brought  viftims 
and  ^  chaplets  of  flowers  to 
the  door  of  the  houfe  where 
they  lodged  —  attended  with 
a  vaft  crowd,  dcfigning  to  fa- 
crifice  to  them. 

14  Soon  as  the  apoflles 
were  acquainted  with  this  re- 
foiution,  they  rent  their 
cloaths,  rufhed  out  of  the 
houfe,  and  flung  themfelves 
among  the  colledted  multi- 
tude—  vehemently  exclaim- 
ing and  with  pathetic  earneft- 
nels  thus  addrefllng  them— 

15  "  Sirs  !  What  hath  in- 
duced you  to  this  ! — We  are 
but  frail  mortals,  fubjedt  to 
the  fame  human  forrows  and 

fufferings  with  yourfelves 

The  great  defign  of  the  glo- 
rious difpenfation  we  preach 


the  ApciSTLESi 


4t7 


among  you,  is,  to  engage 
you  to  renounce  thefe  fiftiti- 
ous  deities,  and  to  recover 
you  to  the  belief  of  the  one 
fupreme  God,  the  creator 
and  governour  of  nniverfal 
nature. 

16  This  infinite  Beino-, 
tho'  in  the  ages  that  are  paf- 
fed,  he  did  not  explicitly 
commiflion  any  divine  mef- 
fenger  to  remonftrate  againft 
thele  abfurdities  in  worfhip^ 
in  which  all  the  heathen  na- 
tions were  plunged, 

1 7  yet,  notwithflianding 
he  did  not  immediately  inter- 
pofe  to  recover  them,  he  ne- 
ver left  his  exiftence  and  per- 
fedlions  unattefted — For  his 
being  and  peifeftions  are 
loudly  proclaimed  by  his  ne- 
ver ceafing  beneficencej  by 
the  regular  and  falutary  re- 
volutions of  the  feafons,  by 
fertilizing  fhowers,  and  by 
his  confliant  liberal  fupply  of 
food  and  happinefs  to  all  hia 
rational  creatures. 

18  But  with  all  the  argu- 
ments he  could  adduce,  the 


»  Thefe  t-vo  gods  the  Heathens  believed  did  rometinies  accompany  each 
ether  in  a  vifit  to  mortals. 

Jupiter  hue,  fpccie  mortall,  cumque  parente 

Ycnit  Atlantiades,  polltis  caducifer  alis.      Ovid  Met.  8.  626. 

^  To  crown  the  apoftlcs  agreeable  to  the  pagan  rites .  All  wore  ^ar^ 
hnds  at  a  heathen  facrifice  —  Data  funt  capiti  genialia  fcrtre.  O-uid 
^TiufXAT  i'X.i^v  zv  yj-ff^^  zy.))Cohy.  AtoK^uv©- .  Homer.  II.  I.  14.  Ik.th- 
ttcii y.Kn.i'oian'  i^ircuf/.evoi.  Sopbocl.  Oed.  Tyr.  fub  init.  Or,  they  might 
0.'  to  crown  the  vii^ims,  as  was  (i/fo  cuftomary. 


Vol,  I. 


people 


4i8 


T!hi  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xiv. 


people  were  with  great  diffi- 
culty reftrained  from  lacrific- 


ing  to  them. 


19  During  their  (lay  at 
Lyftra,  their  implacable  ad- 
verfaries  the  Jews  of  Antioch 
and  Iconium,  tbllovvcd  them 

hither and  inftigated  the 

populace  to  fuch  a  degree  of 
virulence  and  fury,  that  they 
all  rufhed  upon  Paul  and  o- 
verv/helmed  him  with  flones 

—  they  then  dragged  him 
out  of  the  city,  imagining  he 
was  dead. 

20  But  while  tlieChriftians 
were  Handing  in  a  circle 
round  his  body,  he  revived 

—  got  up  —  and  went  with 
them  into  the  town  —  The 
next  day  he  and  Barnabas 
travelled  to  Derbe. 

21  After  they  had  preach- 
c<l  in  this  town,  and  convin- 
ced a  confiderable  number,  of 
the  truth  of  Chriilianity,  they 
turned  back  and  revifited 
Lyftra,  Iconium,  and  An- 
tioch, 

22  cftablifliing  the  minds 
of  thofe  they  had  converted, 
in  the  principles  of  the  gof- 
pel — exhorting  them  with  the 
moft  earned  and  pathetic  im- 
portunity to  adhere  to  the 
doctrines,  of  v/hofe  truth  they 
were  convinced  \  and  admo- 


nifhing  them  that  the  road  to 
Chriilianity  was  infefted  with 
forrows  and  fufferinjjs. 

23  In  every  fociety  that 
was  formed  they  appointed 
the  fenior  Chriftians  to  fuper- 
intend  and  inftrudt  the  ailem- 
bly  —  for  thefe  they  prayed, 
obferving  a  religious  fall, 
and  theie  they  folemnly  re- 
commended to  the  blefling  of 
that  Being,  of  the  truth  of 
whofe  gofpel  they  had  upon 
the  beft  evidence  been  con- 
vinced. 

24.  After  pafTing  through 
Pifidia,  they  came  to  Pam- 
phylia. 

25  They  then  travelled  to 
Pergeand  Attaleia — in  '  both 
which  towns  they  preached 
the  Chriflian  doctrine. 

26  At  this  laft  place  they 
embarked  on  board  a  veilel, 
and  failed  to  Antioch — from 
which  city  by  a  particular  di- 
vine dire61:ion,  they  had  at 
firft  departed — being  exprclT- 
ly  deputed  to  that  office, 
which  they  had  now  fo  fully 
and  faithfully  difcharged. 

27  Immediately  upon  their 
arrival  they  convened  the  af- 
fembly  of  Chriftians,  and  gave 
them  a  circumftantial  account 
of  the  wondertul  fuccefs  with 
which  God  had  blcfled  tliem, 


e  See  the  MSS. 


and 


Chap.  XV.     Ihe  Acts  of  the  A-postles. 

and  whatan  harveftChriftiani- 
ty  had  begun  to  colle6l  among 
the  Heathens. 

28  In  this  city  they  conti- 
nued with  the  Chriftians  a 
confiderable  time. 


I 


being 


CHAR   XV. 

N  the  mean  time  fome 
peiTons  that  came  from 
Jerufalem  told  the  Chriftians 
at  Antioch,  That  if  they  did 
not  fubmit  to  the  Mofaic  rite 
of  circumcifion  they  could 
not  obtain  future  happinefs 

2  This  dodrine 
warmly  oppofed  by  Paul  and 
Barnabas,  and  occafioning 
great  debates  and  altercations, 
the  Chriftians  came  to  a  deter- 
mination to  difpatch  Paul  and 
Barnabas,  and  Ibme  others  of 
their  fociety,  to  the  apoftles 
and  fenior  Chriftians  at  Jeru- 
falem, to  have  their  decifion 
of  this  controverfy. 

3  Thefe,  therefore,  hav- 
ing received  this  commifTion 
travelled  through  Phoenicia 
and  Samaria — in  all  the  places 
they  pafled  acquainting  their 
Chriftian  brethren  with  the 
converfion  of  the  Heathens 
—  an  event,  which  infpired 
them  all  with  the  higheft 
tranfport. 

4  Upon  their  arrival  in  Je- 
rufalem they  were  kindly  re- 
ceived by  the  apoftles,  the  fe- 
nior Chriftians,  and  the  whole 


419 

fociety  —  to  whom  they  mi- 
nutely related  the  wonderful 
luccefs,  with  wlilch  God  had 
biefied  their  minifterial  la- 
bours among  the  Heathens, 

5  Upon  this  fome  of  the 
fed'  of  the  Pharifees,  wlio 
had  embraced  the  gofpeJ,  rofe 
up  in  the  aflembly  and  de- 
clared —  That  the  Heathen 
converts  ouoht  to  be  circum- 
cifed,  and  enjoined  a  ftrid 
obedience  to  the  laws  of 
Mofes. 

6  Hearing  this  variety  of 
fentiments,  the  apoftles  and 
fenior  Chriftians  appointed  x.o 
meet  together,  in  order  to  dif- 
culs  this  topic. 

7  Here,  after  this  quefdon 
had  been  long  agitated,  and 
had  mutually  excited  a  fan- 
guine  conteft",  Peter  flood  up, 
and  thus  addreffed  the  af- 
lembly  —  "  You  need  noc 
be  informed,  my  Chriftian 
brethren  !  how  by  a  divine 
diredion  I  firji  preached  the 
gofpcl  to  the  Heathens,  and 
how  chearfuUy  they  embrac- 
ed its  dodrines, 

8  and  how  worthy  they 
were  of  this  ficred  privilege, 
the  great  God,  who  is  per- 
fedly  acquainted  with  the 
human  heart,  hath  abund- 
antly evinced  by  imparting 
the  famefpiritual  gifts  to  them 
as  to  ourfelves. 

9  By  the  communication 
of  the  blcftings  of  the  gofpel 

E  c  2  in 


l^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap,  xt. 


4:^o 

,ilp»  'this  impartial  undiftin- 
guilliing  manner,  he  hath 
pvibhckly  tnanifefted  that  his 
wiliiom  knows  no  dilbndlion 
betwixt  theoi  and  us. 

10  Ought  you  then  to  op- 
'pofe  the  divine  procedures, 
and  limit  his  all-difrufive  be- 
nevolence by  impofing  a  yoke 

ion  the  necks  of  thefe  Hea- 
then converts,  whofe  rigour 
and  fcverity  both  your  an- 
cestors and  yourfelves  have 
judged  intolerable  ? 

11  Our  principles  are,  in- 
deed, the  fame  with  theirs  — 
for  we  believe  that  we  fhall 
attairt  future  falvarion  folely 
through  the  gracious  difpen- 
fation  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
' —  and  the  fame  fundamental 
fentiments  "they-  all  enter- 
tain/'       '■-'••■•    ■'■ 

12  He  ended, ^nd  an  uni- 
verfal  filence  enfued  —  Bar- 
nabas and  Paul  then  gave  the 
aflembly  a  circumftantial  re- 
lation of  their  amazing  fuc- 
cefs,'  and  the  fignal  miracles 
God  had  enabled  them  to  per- 
form among  the  Heathens. 

13  When  they  had  con- 
cluded their  narration,  the 
apoftle  James  addrefled  him- 
felf  to   the  aflembly  in  the 


following  mdnncr- 


-I  beg,  my 


Chriftian  brethren,  you  wouiu 
hear  my  fentiments  with  at- 
tention and  candour. 

14  Peter  formerly  gave  us 
a  minute  account  of  the  man- 


ner in  which  God  was  pleaf- 
ed  to  exprels  his  regards  for 
the  Heathens,  and  to  feleft 
from  among  them  the  vir- 
tuous, as  objedls  worthy  to 
be  favoured  with  the  revela- 
tion of  his  mind  and  will. 

15  In  prediding  this  dif- 
tinguiflied  event,  all  the  an- 
tient  prophets  imanimoudy 
agree  —  The  following  pro- 
phecy is  clear  and  exprefs. 

16  "  In  the  laft  age  of 
thejewiflidifpenfation,  I  will 
raife  the  decayed  family  of 
David  to  its  former  fplendor, 
and  on  the  ruins  of  hishoufe, 
I  will  rear  a  moft  glorious 
and  magnificent  ftrufture : 

1 7  Into  this  grand  and  ca- 
pacious edifice,  men  of  all 
ranks  and  orders,  without 
diftinclion,  fhall  enter — and 
into  this,  alio,  lliall  all  the 
devout  and  virtuous  among 
the  Heathens  be  admitted, 
and  compofe  together  one 
vaft  and  harmonious^  ibciety 
—  This  revolution  I  will  ef- 
fe6l,  faith  the  creator  and 
governour  of  univerfal  na- 
ture." 

1 8  The  order  of  God*s  dif- 
penfation.",  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end  of  time,  is  in- 
fallibly known  and  regularly 
arranged  by  his  infinite  un- 
derfl:anding. 

19  Since,  therefore,  it  hath 
pleafcd  God  to  effed  this  a- 
mazing  event  among  the  Plea- 

thcnsj 


Ghap.  xv. 

thens,  we  ought  not,  inmy 
judgment,  to  give  the  con- 
verts from  among  ther^i  any 
farther  moleftation. 
^..  20  It  is,  however-j  neceflary 
to  charge  them  to  refrain 
from  tailing  any  thing  that 
hath  been  devoted  to  an  idol, 
and  to  admonifh  them  againfl: 
lewdnefs,  and  againfl:  eating 
any  animal  that  hath  been 
ftrangled,  and  to  enjoin  abfti- 
nence  from  blood. 

21  And  in  order  that  thefe 
injundUons  may-  have  their 
proper  validity  and  force  up- 
on thefe  converts,  <he  law  of 
Mofes,  which  prefcribes 
them,  is  read  every  fabbath 
in  all  the  various  ^  fynagogues 
where  they  refpeclively  at- 
tend." 

22  This  propofal  met  with 
univerfal  approbation  —  and 
the  apoilles,  the  fenior  Chril- 
tians,  and  the  whole  aflembly 
unanimoufly  agreed  to  de- 
pute fome  klett  perfons  out 
of  the  fociety,  and  fend  them 
along  with  Paul  and  Barna- 
bas to  Antioch — According- 
ly they  nominated  Judas  fir- 
nawed-  Barfabas,     and  Silas 

.7-^perfons  of  the  firft  charac- 
ter among;  the  Chriftians. 

23  They  then  drew  up  a 
letter  to  the  Heathen  con- 
verts —  of  which  the., folio  ^y- 


TJx  Acts  of  the  Apostle-s* 


ing  is  4  copy-— The  apprtle^, 
the  fenior  Chriftians^  aiKi.the 
fociety  at  Jerufalem,  .to.;  tht; 
ChriftiaA.  convef  ts  amoijg  the 
Heathens,  ip.  AfiUQchj^..Syri^, 
and  Cilicia.  -     .    -• 

24  Being  inforrned  that 
fome  of  our  fociety  haysigiven 
you  great  difturbance  by  cer- 
tain principles  they  advanced 
among  you  ;  ftrongly  alTert- 
ing  the  abfolute  neceiTity  of 
circumcifion,  and  a  ftricl:  con- 
formity to  the  rites  of  the  Mo- 

faic  law pofitions,  which 

were  never  enjoined  by  any 
authority  from  us, 

25  we  judged  it  proper  to 
convene  a  general  aflembly— - 
in  wliich  we  came  to  an  una- 
nimous refolution  to  dt'legate 
to  you  fome  fele6t  pcrfons  ot 
this  fociety,  along  with  Paul 
and  Barnabas,  our  , dear  fel- 
low Chriftians,  *,-  -Uifi 

26  who  have  both,  as  you 
know,  frequently  expofed 
their  lives  tp  the  moft  immi^ 
nent  dangers,  for  their  in- 
violable and  zealous  attach-, 
menj:  vo  the  Chriftian  religion. 

27  We  have,  therefore, 
deputed  Jude  and  Silas  .to 
you  with  this  letter -7~^iw)k) 
will,  in  perfon,  confirm  the 
fentiments  it  contains.. 

28  For  both  the  dictates 
of  the  Fl^ly  Spirit  iao^l  .of  our 


"  The  Heathen  com^erts  had  nor  ^7;^^/  Inult  feparate  places  of  religious 
v.oriliip,  but  every  ~^>:here  attended  ■di\'i.0e  ferviccin  ihelcwilh  fynagoouej. 

^         E  e  3  own 


422  ^he  Acts  of  the  Apostl-es. 

own  judgment,  have  harmo- 
niondy  united  to  impofe  no 
other  burden  upon  you,  but 
the  following  necelTary  in- 
jundions — 

29  To   abilain   from  any 

meat  that  hath  been  devoted 

to  an  idol  —  from  eating  any 

animal  that  hath  been  ftrang- 

led  —  to  refrain  from  blood 

—  and  from   debauchery  — 

If  you  conlcientioufly  regard 

ihefe  prohibitions,  your  con- 

duft  will  meet  with  our  en- 
tire approbation — Farewel." 

30  The  mefiengers  being 
difmiffed  with  this  commif- 
fion,  came  to  Antioch  —  and 
convoking  the  affembly,  de- 
livered to  them  the  letter. 

3 1  They  read  it — and  the 
duties  it  prefcribed  met  with 
univerfal  approbation. 

32.  The  mefiengers,  Jude 
and  Silas,  who  were  eminent- 
ly endowed  with  fpiritual 
gifts,  pathetically  exhorted 
them  in  many  public  dif- 
courfes,  and  confirmed  their 
fTiinds  in  the  principles  and 
dodrines  of  Chrifi:ianity. 

33  After  they  had  ftaid 
fome  time  with  the  Chriftians 
in  Antioch,  they  returned, 
elated  with  joy,  to  the  apoftles 
at  Jerul'alem, 

34  but  Silas  chofe  to  tarry 


Cha 


P- 


xv/ 


longer  in  Antioch. 


35  In  this  city  Paul  and 
Barnabas  refided  for  a  confi- 
derable  time — beingconftant- 
ly  engaged,  with  feveral  o- 
thers,  in  teaching  and  pro- 
pagating the  doftrines  of 
Chriftianity. 

36  It  happened,  fome  time 
after  this,  that  Paul  made  the 
foliov^ing  propofal  to  Barna- 
bas— Let  us,  faid  he,  take  a 
journey  to  revifit  the  ftate  di 
the  Chriftians  in  every  one  of 
thofe  towns  where  we  lately 
preached  the  gofpel. 

37  To  this  Barnabas  af- 
fented — and  pro'pofed  taking 
with  them  John,  furnamed 
Mark. 

38  But  Paul  oppofed  this 
— ■  thinking  him  an  improper 
companion,  as  he  had  before 
abandoned  them  at  Pam- 
phylia,  and  deferted  them  in 
their  minifterial  labours. 

39  Upon  this,  fuch  a '"  vio- 
lent contention  arofe  as  ended 
in  a  mutual  feparation  —  for 
Barnabas  took  Mark  and  fet 
fail  for  Cyprus, 

40  and  Paul,  taking  Silas 
for  his  aflbciate,  quitted  An- 
tioch— after  the  Chriftians  had 
recommended  them  both  to 
the  divine  blefling. 

41  Paul  after  this  travelled 
through  Syria,  and  Cilicia, 
confirming    and   eftablifliing 


«  n;tfo^t;<r.M©-  is  a  very  ftrong  and  cjnphatical  expreHion,  and  fignifics, 
a  Taarp  aUer catioy,  a  violent  qaaiTcl. 

the 


chap.  xvl.     T^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

the  feveral  congregations  of 
Chriftians  in  the  principles  of 
the  gofpel. 


CHAP.    XVL 


rj E   then   travelled 


to 

Derbe and  from 

thence  to  Lyftra,  where  lie 
met  with  a  convert,  whofe 
name  was  Timothy,  whofe 
father  was  a  Gre^k,  but  his 
mother  a  Jewefs  of  a  molt  a- 
miable  charafter,  '  who  was 
now  a  widow. 

2  This  perfon  was  held  in 
nniverfal  efteem  by  the  Chrif- 
tians in  Lyftra  and  Iconium. 

3  A  convert,  therefore,  of 
fo  difting-uifhed  a  character 
Paul  was  defirous  of  taking 
along  with  him  for  his  com- 
panion— and  accordingly  cir- 
cumcifed  him  —  beinc;  indu- 
ced  to  this  by  a  fear  of  incur- 
ring the  peientment  of  the 
Jews  in  that  country,  who  aJl 
knew  his  father  was  a  Greek. 

4  In  all  the  cities  which 
they  vifited,  they  gave  to  the 
Chriftian  afiTembiies  a  copy  of 
thole  rules  which  the  apoftles 
and  fenior  Chriitians  at  Jerufa- 
lem  had  prefcribed  for  the.di- 
redion  of  their  conduct. 

5  The  feveral  focieties  of 
Chriftians,  therefore,  were 
v;onfirmed  in  live  principles  of 


423 

the  gofpel,  and  their  numb- 
ers augmented  every  day. 

6  After  they  had  travelled 
through  Phrygia  and  Galatia, 
they  intended  to  have  profe- 
cuted  theif  journey  into  the 
proconfular  Afia,  but  were 
prohibited  by  an  impulie  of 
the  Holy  Spirit. 

7  PaiTmg  then  into  Myfia, 
they  defigned  to  go  into  Bi- 
thynia,  but  again  their  de- 
figns  were  annulled  by  the 
fuggeftions  of  the  Spirit. 

8  Traverfing  Myfia,  therei 
fore,  they  came  down  to 
Troas. 

9  In  this  tov^n  Paul  had  the 
following  vilion  exhibited  to 
him — A  perfon,  in  the  habit 
of  a  Macedonian,  ftood  be- 
fore him,  and  in  the  moft 
fupplicant  terms  implored 
him  to  come  over  to  Mace- 
donia and  afllft  them. 

10  After  this  vifion  we  im- 
mediately concluded  to  crofs 
over  to  Macedonia  —  infer- 
ring that  this  was  a  divine  ad- 
monition to  us,  to  promulgate 
the  gofpel  in  that  country. 

1 1  Embarking,  therefore, 
from  Troas,  we  failed  with  a 
favourable  gale  toSamothrace 
—  and  the  next  day  arrived 
at  Neapolis. 

1 2  From  thence  we  came 
to  Philippi,  which  is  a  city 


'  See  Jjlr.  Mill  in  loc. 
E  e  4 


in 


4Ht^  T'/^^AcTs'^V)^^ "Apostles.    Chap.  xvi. 

in  the  Jirjl  partition  of  Mace- 
donia, and  a  Roman  colony 
—In  this  city  we  refided  fome 


time. 

13  On  the  fabbath  day  we 
went  out  of  the  town  to  the 
river  fide,  where  the  Jews 
had,  according  to  cuftom, 
ere(5t-ed  an  ^  Oratory — Here 
we  fat  down,  and  addreffed  a 
difcourfe"  on  the  Chriftian  re- 
ligion to  the  women  who 
were  there  affembled. 

14  Among  thefe  was  a' 
j)ious  and  devout  woman  cal- 
led Lydia,  a  native  of  Thya- 
tira,  a  dealer  in  purple — She 
heard  the  dodlrines  which 
Paul  advanced,  with  eager  at- 
tention—and thro'  the  good- 
nefs  of  God  was  convinced  of 
their  truth'. 

15  After  we  h-ad  baptized 
her  and  her  family.  Hit  with 
great  impdrtuniry  entreated 
«s,  as  ever  we  thought  fa- 
vourably-of  her  "characfter  as 
a  convert;  t»  lodge  at  her 
houfe- — Slie  infilled  upon  our 
compliance. 

■  '  §  —  16  It  happened  one 
tlay  as  w0  were  going  to 
the  Oratory,  a  maid  fervant, 
who  was  believed  to  be  poi- 
fclTed  with  the  fpirit  of  the 
I'ythian  Apol|o,;  met  u^—r 


Her   mafters  had   employed  » 
her  in   divination,    and  hac}:^ 
reaped  great  advantages  from^^ 
her  pretended    fkill  in   this 
art. 

1 7  This  perfon  followed ' 
Paul  and  us,  crying  out  aU» 
the  way  with  a  moft  vehe--- 
ment  vociferation  — —  Thefe, 
thefe  are  the  men,  whq, 
are  the  fervants  of  the  lu-' 
preme  God !  Thefe  are  the' 
perfons,  whom  the  Deity  hath' 
commillioned  to  (how  meftr 
the  road  to  everlafting  hap- 
pinefs ! 

18  In  this  wild  and  extras. 
vagant  manner  fl;ie  continued 
to  ad  for  a  very  confiderable 
time  —  Paul,  at  laft,  being 
greatly  diftrefied  with  this 
Unhappy  circumftance,  turn- 
ed to  her,  and  faid  —  By  the 
authority  of  Jefus  the  Mef- 
fiah,  I  charge  thy  diforder  this 
moment  to  quit  thee  —  In- 
ftantaneoufly  ihe  was  reftored 
to  the  perfect  ufe  of  her  rear 
Ion  and  underftandipg. 

1 9  But  her  mafters,  when 
they  found  that  her  inlanir 
ty  was  removed,  and  confer 
quently  all  their  mercenary 
hopes  from  it  for  ever  ruin- 
ed, were  inflamed  with  the 
mod  violent  rage they 


rrp^  TV  -'bc/hi-tJUi}   Kara,  ro  TatTpicr  '9©-.  .Wtj  pr^am  that  the  Jew, <: 

cre£l  oratories   by  the  fea  AJf,  according  t(?'7;^ff;//?o//i  of  their  Country. 

Jo/.  Ant.  Lib.  14.  C.  Io;§  24.     Hud.-      ■      --.J'^'i^i      "*■'•'       '/"^^  >       -.^:• 

Ede  ubi  confi-fla^,  in  <^im  t«qunsro /ro/fW^«. ':^/*;'.'5«*J^.  ^tgi'"- 

feized 


Chap.xvl.'   7^/6^  Acts  o/^/z^^  Apostles.  425 

the  doors  in  an  inftant  flewr 
open — and  the  fhackies  of  all- 


feized.Paul  and  Silas — drag- 
ged them  into  the  forura  be- 
fore the  magiftrates, 

2Q  and  thus  addreded  the 

prefidents  of  that  court 

"  Thefe  are  the  men,  who 
have  excited  fuch  difturbance 
and  confufion  in  the  town  ! 

21  They  are  Jews,  and 
have  been  moft  induftriouQy 
fpreading  fuch  religious  prin- 
ciples and  ceremonies,  as  it  is 
unlawful  for  Romans  either 
to  adopt  or  obferve." 

22  This  fpeech  inftantly 
kindled  the  rage  and  fury  of 
$11  the  populace  againft  them 
•—and  the  magiftrates  imme- 
diately ordered  the  lidors  to 
tear  oiF  their  upper  garments, 
jaitd  beat  them  with  rods. 

nn^  After  they  h.ad  infli^fled 
vpon  them  this  punifhment, 
with  extreme  rigour  and  cru- 
elty, they  precipitated  them 
into  the  public  prifon— giv- 
ing ftrid  orders  to  the  jailor 
fa  fecure  them. 

24  The  jail -keeper  upon 
receiving  fo  peremptory  an 
injundion,  confined  them  in 
the  dungeon  and  faftened 
their  legs  in  the  ftocks, 

,25  But  about  midnight  as 
Paul  and  Silas  were  celebrat- 
ing God  in  loud  and  fervent 

ftrains  of  devotion which 

the  other  prifoners  overheard, 

26  all  on  a  fudden  a  dread- 
ful earthquake  Ihook  the 
j/vhole  prifon  to  its  bafis — all 


the  prifoners  dropped  to  the 
ground. 

27  This  violent  concufTion 
awakening  the  keeper,  whea- 
he  faw  the  doors  of  the  pri-? 
fon  wide  open,  he  drew  hisi 
fword,  and  v/as  going  to 
plunge  it  in  his  bofom,  con- 
cluding all  the  prifoners-  had 
efcaped.  ' 

28  In  that  crifis  Paul  cal- 
led to  him  with  a  loud  voice 
—  entreating  him  not  to  lay- 
violent  hands  upon  himfelf— • 
afTuring  him  all  the  prifoners 
were  fafe. 

29  The  jailor  then,  foon 
as  he  had  got  a  light,  rufhed 
immediately  into  the  dunge- 
on— his  whole  frame  convuU 
fed  with  terrour  and  aftonifh- 
ment— -and  p roft rated  himr 
felf  at  the  feet  of  Paul  and 
Silas. 

30  After  he  had  brought 
them  out,  he  l^id  to  them— 
Sirs!  ..what  muft  Ji^do  tot. J3e 
laved!  .,:;.:Io::: .. 

31  By  a  fincere  belief  in 
the  truth  of  Chriftianity,  they 
replied,  both  thou  and  ^hy 
family  will  attain  eyerlafting 
falvatioPi  .  ...  .'      ;    ■ 

3  2  T'hey  theii  ^^v^c  .  hini 
and  his  family  ah  account  of 
the  evidences  and  principles 
of  the  Chriflian  religion, 
this, 


33  After  this,    the 
walhcd  their  wounds 


immc- 


T&e  Acts  of  t/je. A? ostles. 


426 

imtnediately  afterwards  he, 
and  all  his  domefticks,  were 
baptized.    ,  ■ 

34  He  then  brought  them 
into  his  own  apartnient 
fpread  a  table — and  both  him- 
ielf  and  his  whole  family, 
"who  had  now  profefTed  their 
faith  in  the  true  God,  were 
filled  with  facred  and  ecftatic 
tranfport. 

35  Early  in  the  morning 
the  magiilrates  fent  the  lie- 
tors  to  the  prifon  with  an  or- 
der to  the  keeper  for  the  two 
men  to  be  difmiffed. 

^  36  Upon  this  the  jailor  im- 
mediately went  to  Paul  and 
faid — I  have  this  moment  re- 
ceived an  order  from  our  ma- 
giftrates  to  releafe  you — De- 
part therefore,  and  may  uni- 
verfal  happinefs  attend  you  ! 

^y  But  Paul  faid  to  the 
meflengers — We  are  Roman 
citizens  — >  Your  magiftrates 
have  ordered  us  to  be  public- 
ly fcourged  without  a  legal 
trial '^  —  They  have  thrown 
us  into  a  dungeon  —  And 
v;ould  they  now  have  us  fteal 
a,way  in  a  filent  and  clandef- 
tane  manner  ?  —  No  !  —  Let 
them  come  in  perfon,  and 
condu6t  us  out  themlelves. 

38  The  lidtors  returned 
and  reported  this  anfwcr  to 


Chap.  xvii. 

the  governours  —  who  were 
greatly  alarmed  and  terrified, 
when  they  underftood  they 
were  Roman  citizens. 

39  Accordingly  they  went 
in  perfon  to  die  jail——'  ad- 
dreifed  them  with  great  civi- 
lity,  and'  begged  them  in  the 
moft  refpeiftfu-1  terms,  that 
they  would  quietly  leave  the 
town. 

40  Being  thus  efcorted 
out  of  prilbn  they  after- 
wards went  to  Lydia's  houle, 
where  after  they  had  exhorted 
their  Chriftian  bretlirento  ad- 
here to  their  profeflion,  they 
left  the  tov/n. 

C  H  A  P.    XVII. 

I  A  FTER  paffing  through 
•^^  Amphipolis  and  A- 
pollonia  they  came  to  Thefla- 
lonica — in  which  city  there 
v/as  a  Jewilhifynagogue. 

2  To  this  Paul  went,  as 
ufual,  and  for  three  fabbath 
days  together  interpreted,  in 
his  public  difcourfes,  the  va- 
rious prophecies  of  the  Old 
Teftament : 

3  giving  the  aflembly  an 
explication  of  the  variouji 
palfages  that  exprefsly  indi- 
cated the  fufferings,  death^ 
and  rcfurredlion  of  the  Mef- 


•>  See  note  on  Chap.  xxii.  25. 

»  I'liere   is  a  confiderable  addition  here  in  the  Cambridge  MS.  wliich 


appears  to  nvc  the  jcnuine  reading. 


fiah. 


ChaD.xvii.    T'he  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

fiah,  and  Hiowing  their  ac- 
complifhment  in  Jefus  of  Na- 
zareth —  whom  he  folemnly 
aflured  them  was  that  illuf- 
trious  peribn. 

4  His  difcourfes  convinced 
fome  of  the  Jews  of  the  truth 
ofChriftianity,  who  embraced 
and  adhered  to  the  doctrines 
that  Paul  and  Silas  advanced 
— a  very  confiderable  number 
alfo  of  the  devout  Greeks  and 
ladies  of  diftinclion  became 
their  converts. 

5  But  thofe  of  the  Jews, 
who  remained  unconvinced, 
being  inftigated  by  rage  and 
malice,  took  a  number  of 
profligate  and  abandoned 
wretches,  and  coiledling  the 
mob,  foon  threw  the  whole 
town  into  the  laft  confufion 
— The  mob  immediately  be- 
fet  Jafon's  houfc — broke  into 
it  —  hoping  to  get  Paul  and 
his  companions  into  their 
power. 

6  After  they  had  fearched 
it  through,  but  to  no  pur- 
pofe,  they  dragged  Jafon, 
and  Ibme  of  the  Chriilians 
before  the  governors  of  the 
city — vehemently  exclaiming 
—  "  Thefe,  thefe  are  die  men 


427 

who  have  fet  the  whole  world 
in  a  flame ! 

7  Thefe  pefts  of  fociety  are 
come  hither — and  this  Jafon 
hath  given  them  a  friendly 
and  hofpitable  reception  -— 
They  are  every  one  of  them 
fworn  enemies  to  Csefar's  go- 
vernment —  aflTerting  there 
is  another  ^  emperor  befides 
him,  one  Jefus. 

8  The  '  city  and  the  ma- 
giftrates  hearing  this  were 
greatly  alarmed  and  difl:refl^ed.- 

9  Jafon,  hov/ever,  and  the 
other  Chriftians,  giving  pro- 
per fecurity  that  they  would 
behave  as  peaceable  fubjefts, 
they  were  difmiffed. 

10  But  the  Chriftian  con- 
verts m  the  town  hafliened 
Paul  and  Silas  away,  and  con- 
duced them  by  night  to  Be- 
r^a — Upon  their  arrival  here 
they  went  into  the  Jevvifli  fy- 
nao-oo-ue. 

1 1  The  Jews,  who  compof- 
ed  this  aflt^mbly,  were  pofTefiT- 
ed  of  a  more  noble  and  gener- 
ous difpofition  than  thole  who 
refided  in  TheflTalonica  —  for 
they  embraced  the  Chriftian 
dodrines    with    chearfulnefs 

'  examininf*- 


—  impartially 


^  The  Greek  writers  very  often  call  the  Roman  Emperors  Cutik-k. 
Picn  CaJJius,  Herodian,  Zofimus,  are  full  of  inftances.  S<y^.£«ro3vA«K«:/ 
T-iCa.aiK'-toc,  The  Emperor's  life-guards.     Hersdiu}:,  ^.  19.    Edit.  Oxon. 

J  See  the  Various  Leftions  in  Dr.  Mill. 

^  AvaKPiVQvTkc  This  word  is  2^  fcrenjic  term,  and  is  generally  ufed 
for  exa?ni7iing  witnefies  and  prifoners.  A>':4jtp<('r)//«i'o/  rea  rpArtiya-,  Being 
fxaml^ed  by  the  P.omjn  general.    Polyhius,  v.  115.    Edit.  Ham-v.  '1619. 

4  the 


T^hc  Acts  of  the  Apostles.    Chap,  xvli, 

and  returned — being  charged 
by  him  with  a  commiffion  to 
Silas  and  Timothy  to  come  to 
him  as  foon  as  polTible. 

§ — 16  During  the  time 
that  Paul  waited  at  Athens 
for  their  coming,  his  fpirit 
"  glowed  with  indignation  to 
fee  the  whole  city  entirely  de^. 
voted  to  the  worfhip  of  idols. 

17  He  therefore  freely  de- 
livered his  fentiments  in  the 
I'ynagogue,  to  the  Jews  and  to 
other  devout  perfons  —  and 
every  day  publickly  difcourf- 
ed  in  the  forum,  to  the  peo^ 
pie  who  attended  there. 

iS  Then  fome  of  the  Epi- 
curean and  Stoic  philofophers 
entered  into  a  conference  with 
him — during  which,  fome  of 
the  audience  faid  to  each  other 
— What  principles  would  this 
"  idle  prater  eflablifli  ?  — He 
appears  to  us,  others  faid,  to 
be  defirous  to  introduce  fome 
new  and  foreign  divinities  a- 


428 

the  fcripturcs  every  day,  that 
they  might  judge  for  them- 
felves  on  what  foundation 
tliefe  principles  were  fup- 
ported-  ' 

•  J  2  The  rcfult  of  which  di- 
ligent enquir)'^  was,  the  con- 
viftion  of  great  numbers  of 
them  —  Several  Greek  ladies 
alio  of  dillindtion,  and  others 
of  the  Heathens  embraced 
Chriftianity. 

13  But  no  fooner  did  the 
Jews  in  Theffalonica  receive 
information  that  Paul  was 
propagating  the  Chriflian  re- 
ligion at  Bersa,  but  they 
hafted  thither  —  and  fpirited 
up  the  populace. 

14  Upon  this  the  Chrif- 
tians  inftantly  fent  Paul  out  of 
the  town  towards  the  fea  fide 

But  Silas  and  Timothy 

itaycd  behind  in  the  city. 

15  Thofe  who" now  efcort- 
ed  Paul,  conduced  him  to 
Adiens— where  they  left  him 


"  Uetpu^vviTo  is  a  very  empKatical  word,  and  fignifies  to  provoke, 
exafperate.  Solon  being  neither  willing  to  flatter  him  nor  to  exafpcratt 
him  any  farther,  TaPoSur-zr.  Plutarch  SgIou,  p.  17K  Thefe  things  ex- 
afpn-atcd  him  not  a  little,  rraou^vvi.  L-i.  6S3.  Vtxed  and  exa/perated^ 
c^yiaQiif  KOLi  rretpo^vi'^m.  LI.  p.  690.  1"he  Macedonians  were  dread- 
fully t-A-rt/^raW,  rrnoco^vv^wcra.v.  Id.  p.  1073.  He  excfperated  the  fol- 
tiiers,  crdpw^i;*'?.  Id.  p.  1326.  Edit.  Gr.  Svo.  Sleph.  Caius  was  ftill 
more  exafpenited  at  this,  <jr<tp<y|i/i'«To.  Poly  bins,  p.  262.  Being  exnj- 
peraied  at  all  thefe  things,  ■^apu^vvBiVTii-  Polyiius,  p.  276.  Edu. 
//rtwot).  1619. 

-  •  X'jrepiwoXo^O' fignifies  a  wild,  incoherent  talker,  an  idle  rambling 
prater.  NAvriKt^i  a--7ripixahoyiu.<.  The  71  luildry  o(  hWors.  Plutarch  Jl- 
ciliad.  "S-fxip/xohoyQ-  rtrflpcy-rl^-.  Dionyf.  Haltcar.  Vol.'i.  p.  710.  Hud/on. 
Oxon.  Tatiua  tells  us  the  ./^.ijf'?'/^  called  the  ChrijHans  idle  and  imper- 
tinent praters  ;  <^Km-x'i\t.^  vnj  (XTipixoAoyiii  nixxi  i'ci/.i^dTi.  TatiaKt 
O/atio contra  Grxcos,  p. .i|6.     P^nis  1636. 

2  mong 


42^ 

ing  a  lurvey  of  the.  rdigious 
honours  y.ou  pay  to  the  vari- 
ous deities  you  worfhip,  I 
chanced  to  find  an  altar  with 
this  infcription,  To  the  un- 
known God— This  Divinity 
whom  you  venerate  under  the 
title  of  uukfwzun,  I  now  pro- 
claim among  you.      .  |,.  ,    -, 

24  For  this  Divinity  was 
the  Ible  creator  of  the  world, 
and  of  every  being  it  contains 
—  This  Divinity  is  the  uni^- 
verfal  governour  of  heaven 
and  of  earth — v/hofe  immen- 
fity  cannot  be  circumfcribed 
in  temples  rearc-d  by  mortal 
hands.  ,  .       , 

25  Nor  is  this  glorious  Be- 
ing to  be  worOiipped  by  any 
works  the  art  of  mortals  can 
cfie6t,  as  if  he  required  any 
additions  to  his  efleatialhap- 
pinefs— for  he  i,';  the  fupreme 
fource  of  exiftence,  the  great 
fountain  of  life,  and  the  origi- 
nal  donor  of  happlnefs  to  all 
his  creatures. 

26  From  one  fingle  in  dividu- 
al did  this  Being  originally 
form  the  whole  race  of  man-, 
kind,  that  have  exitlcd  in  e- 
very  pad:  age  and  nation  in  the 
world — The  various  difpea- 
rations  of  thefe  his  rational 
ci;eatures  I^atb  hjs  i»fi^ite..vvif- 


Ghap.  i'vii.   'Tloe  Ac t s  of  the  At b s t-L Est 

mong  us  —  They  were  led 
into  this  notion  by  his  men- 
tion of  Jesus  and  the  Re- 
surrection. 

19  After  this  they  feized  him, 
and  carried  him  before  the 
court  of  Areopagus  —  When 
he  flood  before  this  tribunal 
they  thus  interrogated  him, 
Will  you  give  us  a  diftindt 
account  of  the  principles  you 
have  advanced  amongft  us .'' 

20  For  you  have  been  pro- 
pagating a  fet  of  notions,  to 
which  we  are  entire  ftrangers 
—  We  therefore  demand  of 
you  a  clear  explication  of  thefe 
tenets  —  and  what  induced 
you  to  adopt  thern  ? 

21  For  all  the  Athenians, 
and  the  foreigners  v/ho  refid- 
ed  in  that  city,  employed  their 
hours  in  nothing  elfe,  but  in 
either, advancing,  or  hearing 
advanced,  fomething  that  was 
new  and  fingular. 

22  Paul  then  {landing  in 
the  midflofthe  court,  thus 
addreffed  thefe  venerable 
judges — "  Your  facred  re- 
verence for  P  religion,  O 
Athenians,  appears  from  e- 
very  fcene  and  ,p]acQ  I  fee 
around  me.         -q    ^uf;*- '-i 

23  For  as  I  was  pafTing 
^hrpugh  ^oiir  city,_.  and  .  tak- 

['.-.    ^  ,-,- >,,V-         T,'':(?> '\t^-  !-'■'.  y- ■    '•.!'!'    .^.tUfOA. 

1*  Ae/!r/(^ct//'/p''«r?pK<  very"  devout,  very  pfou?  votaries  of  religion. 
AitfftS'a.tuovia.  is  very  often  ufcd  in  a  good  feiile,  and  lignifies  religic?i. 
Confult  A&.i  XXV.  19.  Claudius  in  his  editft  commr.nds  the  yev.'s  not  to 
vilify  the  religions  of  other  countricSj    i^i7i^a.t)jovta?>     'Jcfcph.  p.  866,  18, 

'  dom 


42^ 


'The  Acts  cf  the  i\posTLES.     Chap.xvil, 


dom  from  all  etc rnitv  arranofed 
and  hath  marked  the  rc- 
fpe<5live  age.  and  nation,  in 
which  they  are  to  hve,  with 
infallible  precifion  : 

27  the  great  end  of  their 
exiftence  being  to  invefligate 
and  explore  the  being  and 
perfecflions   of  the  Supreme 

if,   indeed,  they  would 

be  difpofed,  by  the  exercife 
of   their    rational     faculties, 

to  attain  this  idea and 

this  idea  obtrudes  itfelf  upon 
all — fince  we  are,  every  one 
of  us,  perpetually  encircled 
by  his  immenfity. 

28  For  it  is  fokly  to  the 
con flant  exertion  of  his  provi- 
dence that  we  Hand  indebted 
for  every  breath  that  we  draw 
—  for  every  motion  we  per- 
form —  and  for  the  continu- 
ance of  every  blefTing  we  pof- 
fefs — •  extremely  jult,  there- 
fore, is  the  following  expref- 
fion  of  one  of  your '"  poets  — 
*'  One  great  jirjl  Catife  informed 
us  with  heinz^'^ 

29  Since  therefore  we  de- 
rived our  being  from  this  great 
jirfi  Caufe^  it  would  be  the 
higheft  abfurdity  and  dero- 
gation from  the  honour  due 
to  him,  to  imagine.  That  the 
Divinity  can  be  worthily  exhi- 
bited by  ftatues  of  gold,  fil- 
ver,   or  marble,  the*  all  the 


art  and  genius  of  man  have 
been  laviflied  upon  them. 

30  At  the  preceding  ages, 
in  which  men  wilfully  deviat- 
ed into  thefe  grofs  and  im.~ 
pious  errors,  the  great  God 
was  pleafed  to  connive — But 
novj  he  loudly  proclaims  to  all 
men,  in  all  nations,  the  ne- 
ceflity  of  repentance  and  re- 
formation of  life, 

31  becaufe  he  hath  ap- 
pointed a  folemn  day,  in 
which  the  whole  univerfe  of 
rational  beings  will  be  judged 
with  impartial  equity  by  a 
perfon,  to  whom  he  hath  af- 
figned  this  arduous  province 

and  Qod  hath  publickly 

fet  his  feal  to  this  grand  e- 
vent  by  raifing  this  perfon 
from  the  dead,'* 

32  They  no  fooner  heard 
him  mention  the  refurredlion 
of  dead  men  to  life  —  but  it 
immediately  excited  the  high- 
eft  banter  and  derifion  —  O- 
thers  of  them,  however,  faid 
— We  fhall  be  glad  to  hear 
you  difcourfe  again  on  this 
fubjeft. 

33  Paul  then  left  the  af- 
fembly. 

34.  There  were,  notwith- 
ftanding,  fome  perfons,  who 
were  convinced  of  the  truth 
of  his  dodrines  and  embraced 
them  —  Among  whom  were 


^  Aratin, 


Dionyfius 


chap,  xviii.    T!he  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


Dionyfius  a  member  of  the  fu- 
preme  court  of  Areopagus, 
and  one  Damaris  a  lady  of 
diflindion. 

CHAP.    XVIII. 

I   P  A  U  L    after   quitting 
•*•  Athens  travelled  to  Co- 
rinth. 

2  Here  he  met  and  afToci- 
ated  with  a  Jew  called  Aqui- 
la,  a  native  of  Pontus,  who 
had  lately  fled  hither  with  his 
wife  Prifcilla  —  the  emperor 
Claudius  having  iffued  an  "■  e- 
dift,  by  which  all  the  Jews 
in  Rome  were  ordered  to  a- 
bandon  the  city  immediately. 

3  And  being  both  of  them 
tentmakers,  the  apoftle  refid- 
ed  with  them  and  ^  worked  at 
this  occupation  : 

4  But  every  fab  bath  day 
he  delivered  public  difcourfes 
in  the  fynagogue- — addrefiing 
the  moil  importunate  exhorta- 
tions to  Jews  and  Heathens 
to  embrace  the  gofpel. 

5  But  upon  the  arrival  of 
Silas  and  Timothy  from  Ma- 
cedonia, Paul  was  animated 
with  the  greateft  ardor  and 
zeal,  and  publickly  aflerted, 
among  all  the  Jews,   in  the 


431 

ftrongeft  terms.  That  the  late 
Jefus  was  the  great  Mefiiah. 

6  This  meeting  with  the 
warmed  oppofition,  and  they 
loading  him  and  his  principles 
with  abufive  language,  he 
turned  to  them,  and  after 
having  folemnly  fhaken  his 
upper  garments,  faid — ^Your 
future  perdition  is  your  own 
wilful  and  voluntary  afl  and 
choice — By  this  public  adion 
I  declare  to  all,  that  I  am  not 
acceflary  to  it  —  For  the  fu- 
ture I  devote  myfelf  to  the 
converfion  of  the  Heathens. 

7  Having  faid  this  he  im- 
mediately quitted  the  fyna- 
gogue,  and  went  into  an  houfe 
contiguous  to  it,  in  which 
one  Julius  lived,  a  perfon  of 
exemplary  piety. 

8  Crifpus,  however,  the 
prefident  of  the  fynagogue 
and  his  whole  family  embrac- 
ed the  Chriftian  religion  — 
Great  numbers  alfo  of  the 
Corinthians  were  convinced 
of  its  truth,  and  were,  by 
baptifm,  publickly  initiated 
into  the  profefTion  of  it. 

9  After  this,  the  folio  win  o- 
words  were  addrefied  to  Paul 
m  a  dream,  by  a  divine  direc- 
tion—  "  Be  not  intimidated 


'  This  fad  is  atteftcd  by  Suetonius.  Judaeos  impulfore  Chrefto  aflidue 
tumukuantes  Roma  expulit.  Sueton,  in  Claud,  c.  25.  p.  54^.  Edit.  Var. 
8vo. 

'  Fp^oj'  j*  vJ'iV   cy&tSQ-  cd5p^«/«  sTs  T    oj/e//©-.     Hcf.od,  Ver.  309. 

— Publilh 


^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.    Ghap.  xviii* 


43^ 

— Publifli  the  Chriftian  reli- 
gion with  undaunted  refolu- 
tion. 

10  For  thou  haft  an  om- 
nipotent Being  to  aid  thee, 
and  no  one  jfhall  be  permit- 
ted to  offer  the  leaft  injury  to 
thy  perfon  —  Publickly  af- 
fcrt,  therefore,  the  truth  of 
Chriftianity,  with  undifmayed 
fortitude — for  there  is  in  this 
city  a  large  harveft  of  well- 
difpofed  perfons,  which  ftill 
remains  to  be  gathered  in. 

1 1  Accordingly  the  apoftle 
refided  at  Corinth  a  year  and 
half — diligently  employed  in 
promulgating  and  explaining 
the  principles  of  the  gofpel. 

§  «—  12  '  Gallio  being  at 
that  time  proconful  of  Achaia, 
the  whole  body  of  the  Jews 
in  Corinth  rofe — feized  Paul 
by  violence  —  and  hurried 
him  before  his  tribunal : 

13  Exclaiming' — This  is 
the  perfon,  who  is  inceflantly 
perfuading  men  to  worfhip 
God  in  a  way  that  our  law 
doth  not  juftify. 

14  The  apoflle  going  to 
offer  a  vindication  of  his  con- 
duct and  principles,  Gallio 
anticipated  him,  by  faying  to 
his  accufers  —  "  Ye  Jews ! 


had  you  detedted  this  perfon 
in  fome  flagrant  adt  of  in- 
jufbice,  or  impeached  him  of 
fome  atrocious  crime,  rrty 
duty,  as  a  magiftrate,  would 
have  engaged  me  to  have 
given  the  caufe  an  accurate 
and  impartial  examination. 

15  But  if  this  be  only  a 
difpute  about  a  nicety  in 
fpcculation  —  about  the  au- 
thority of  a  name —  or  fome 
dubious  point  in  your  law,  do 
you  agitate  it  among  your- 
felves  -^  For  I  Ihall  not  fit 
as  judge  upon  any  fuch  punc- 
tilios. 

16  Having  faid  this,  he 
ordered  the  liftors  to  drive 
them  out  of  court. 

1 7  The  "  Jews,  incenfed  at 
this  difappointment,  direftly 
feized  Softhenes  who  had  been 
one  of  the  prefidents  of  their 
fynagogue,  and  fcourged  him 
publickly  before  the  tribunal 
— —  But  Gallio  continued  un- 
moved, nor  was  their  info- 
lence  able  to  inftigate  him  to 
interpofe  in  the  prefent  dif- 
pute. 

18  Paul  continued,  after 
tliis  incident,  a  confiderable 
time  at  Corinth  —  At  length 
taking  leave  of  the  Chriilian 


*  Callio  was  the  elder  brother  cf  the  celebrated  Phllofopher  Seneca, 
Zero's  tutor,  and  is  often  mentioned  in  his  writings.  Solcbam  tibi  diccrc 
GalHonem  fratrcm  mcum,  &c.  Scnecrf  Nai.  ^<rj}>  prxfat.  p.  525.  Lib.  4. 
Jllud  mihi  in  ore  eraC  domliii  mei  Giillionis,  &c.  Epilt,  104.  lub  mi:. 
p.  435.  Edit.  Blaeu.  i2mo. 

"  O/  ItfcTa/o/  i;  thf  genuine  reading.     See  A4SS, 

fociet^" 


Chap,  xviii.    Hhe  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


fociety,  he  embarked  on  board 
a  veiTci  for  Syria,  along  with 
Aquila  and  Prifcilla — after 
he  had  fliaved  his  head  at 
Cenchrea  en  account  of  a  re- 
ligious vow. 

19  Upon  his  arrival  in 
Ephefus,  where  he  left  his 
two  companions,  he  went,  as 
iifual,  into  the  Jewifli  fyna- 
gogue,  and  pubHckly  addref- 
led  a  difcourfe  on  the  Chrif- 
tian  revelation  to  the  aflem- 
bly. 

20  They  afterwards  ftrong- 
ly  importuned  him  to  make 
fome  ftay  with  them^ — but  he 
would  not  confent : 

2 1  Telling  them,  when  he 
took  his  leave  of  them,  That 
he  was  under  an  abfolute  ne- 
ceflfity  to  celebrate  the  ap- 
proaching folemnity  at  Jeru- 
falem  —  but  that  he  propofed 
with  the  bleflino;  of  God  to 
revifit  them— 
from  Ephefus, 

22  he  came  to  Caelarea  — 
and  from  thence  went  up  to 
Jerufalem  —  Where  after  he 
had  juft  waited  upon  the 
Chriftians  there,  he  came 
down  to  Antioch. 

23  After  having  flayed 
Jiere  for  fome  time,  he  tra- 
velled, in  a  regular  order, 
from  one  Chriftian  fociety  to 
another,  through  G alalia  and 
Phrygia,  inftrud;ing  and  e- 
ilahlifliing  his  former  con- 
verts in  their  crincipies. 

Vol.  I. 


■Embarking 


433 

§  —  24  In  the  mean  time 
there  arrived  at  EphefiiSj  a 
Jew,  whofe  name  was  .  A- 
pollos,  a  native  of  Alexandria 
-—  a  perfon  diftinguifned  for 
his  eloquence  -and  fuperior 
knowledge  of  the  holy  fcrip- 
tures. 

25  This  perfon  was  en- 
dowed with  a  fingular  fervor 
and  zeal  —  and  in  his  public 
difcourfes  accurately  repre- 
fented  the  true  nature  of  the 
Mefllah's  kingdom  —  tho'  he 
knew  no  moreof  Chriflianity 
than  what  John  the  Baprift, 
during  his  miniftry,  had  de- 
clared. 

26  Difcourfing  on  this  fub- 
jedb  with  great  freedom  and 
liberty,  Aquila  and  Prifcilla, 
who  were  his  auditors,  in- 
vited him  to  their  houfe,  and 
furnifhed  him  with  a  more 
explicit  and  accurate  know- 
ledge of  the  Chriltian  religion. 

27  Intending  fome  time 
after  to  travel  into  Achaia, 
the  Chriftians  urged  him  to 
undertake  this  journey — and 
wrote  letters  of  recommen- 
dation to  the  Chriftian  focie- 
ties  there  —  who  accordingly 
gave  him  a  kind  reception 
—  In  this  country  he  did  di- 
ftinguiilied  fcrvice  to  the  caufe 
of  Chriftianity: 

28  For  by  the  powers  of 
his  eloquence  ?nd  h.is  emi- 
nent fkill  in  the  fcriptures,  he 
publickly  refuted  ail  the  ob- 


Ff 


jedlions 


'TJoe  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xix. 


434 

jetlions  of  the  Jews — denion- 
ftrating  from  the  antient  pro- 
phecies that  Jefus  of  Naza- 
reth was  the  true  Mcfilah. 


CHAP.    XIX. 

1  T  N  the  mean  time  while 
*-  Apollos  was  at  Corinth, 
Paul,  having  travelled  over 
tlie  upper  parts  of  Afia  mi- 
nor, arrived  at  Ephefus 

where  meeting  with  a  num- 
ber of  converts 

2  he  afked  them — If  they 
had  been  endowed  with  fpi- 
ritual  gifts  fince  their  embra- 
cing the  Chriftian  religion  — 
They  told  him,  They  had 
never  heard  that  any  fuch  fu- 
pernatural  powers  had  ever 
been  conferred. 

3  Into  what  principles 
then,  faid  he,  were  ye  bap- 
tized .'' The  principles, 

they  replied,  into  which  John 
the  Baptiil  initiated  thole  who 
rcfortcd  to  his  baptilm. 

4  "  The  fole  view  of  John's 
baptifm,  anfwered  Paul,  was 
to  promote  repentance  and  a- 
mendmentof  life  in  cruei\  to 
diipofe  men,  as  he  told  the 
crowds  that  repaired  to  him, 
for  the  reception  of  his  great 
fucceflbr  —  who  was  Jcfus  of 
Nazareth  the  true  Mefiiah. 

5  And  thofe,  continued 
he,  who  at  that  time  believ- 
ed John's  dodrine  were,  in 
effe^y  baptized  into  the  pro- 


feffion  of  the  Chriftian   reli- 
gion." 

6  Paul,  having  faid  this, 
laid  his  hands  upon  them  — 
inllantly  an  effufion  of  the 
holy  fpiritenfued — theyfpoke 
various  languages — and  by  a 
divine  impuife  publickly  de- 
livered inltruftive  truths. 

7  The  number  of  thefe 
perlbns  was  about  twelve. 

§ 8  During   his  refi- 

dence  in  this  city  he  conftant- 
ly  frequented  the  fynagogue 

for  the  fpace  of  three 

months  delivering  public  dif- 
courfes  there  with  great  fpirit 
and  freedom,  and  inculcating 
the  doctrines  of  Chriftianity 
with  all  the  pov/ers  of  per- 
fuafion. 

9  But  when  fome  of  the 
Jews  wilfully  remained  un- 
convinced, and,  before  all 
the  aflcmbly,  loaded  the  Chrif- 
tian fcheme  with  every  op- 
probrious infult  and  calum- 
ny, Paul  abandoned  the  Sy- 
nagogue, feparated  the  Chrif- 
tian converts  from  the  Jewilh 
congregation^  and  from  that 
time  appointed  to  meet  in  the 

fchool  of  one  Tyrannus 

v/here  he  every  day  publick- 
ly inftru6led  them  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  gofpel. 

lo  Here  he  continued  his 
minifterial  labours  for  two 
years  —  By  which  means  all 
the  inhabitants  of  Afia  minor, 
both  Jews  and  Greeks,  be- 
came 


Chap.  x\k.     T/je  Acts  of 

came  acquainted  with  the 
doftrines  of  the  Chriftian  re- 
ligion. 

1 1  During  this  his  refi- 
dence  God  alio  enabled  him 
to  work  many  fignal  mira- 
cles : 

12  For  handkerchiefs  and 
apfons  were  carried  from  him, 
and  being  laid  on  the  indifpof- 
ed,  all  their  various  diforders 
were  inftantly  expelled,  and 
they  were  reinftated  in  perfect 

health the  moll  obltinate 

melancholy  and  madnefs  yield- 
ed to  the  touch  of  thefe. 

13  Flattered  by  thefe  ope- 
rations fome  travelling  Jews, 
who  pretended  to  a  power  of 
exorcifing  daemons,  attempt- 
ed to  expel  them  from  fome 
infane  perfons  by  folemnly 
pronouncing  over  them  the 
name  of  Jefus — faying — We 
adjure  you  by  that  Jefus  whom 
Paul  preaches,  Depart ! 

14  There  were  feven  of 
them,  the  fons  of  Sceva  the 
Jewifh  high  prieft,  who  now 
a6led  in  this  manner. 

15  The  infane  perfon  faid 
to  them — Jefus  I  know,  and 
Paul  I  know,  but  who  are 
you ! 

16  Having  laid  this,  he 
furloufly  rufhed  upon  them — 
and,  his  madnefs  redoubling 
his  ftrength,  ail  their  united 
force  could  not  reflrain   him 

he  tore  their  cloarhs  in 

pieces— v;ounded  them — and 


t/)e  Apostles.  435 

in  this  condition  obliged  them 
to  fiy  out  of  the  houfe  with 
the  utmoft  precipitation. 

17  With  this  incident  all 
the  Jews  and  Greeks  in  E- 
phefus  foon  became  acquaint- 
ed— and  it  univerfally  llruck 
them  with  a  facred  av/e,  and 
with  the  moft  refpeftful  reve- 
rence for  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jefus. 

1 8  Upon  this  occafion  too, 
great  numbers  of  thofe,  who 
had  embraced  Chriftianity, 
came  to  the  apoflle — and  with 
great  remorfe  contbfTed  the 
criminal  practices  of  ibis  kind 
they  had  formerly  been  guilty 
of: 

19  and  a  confiderable  num- 
ber of  thefe  fmcere  penitents, 
brought  all  the  books  they 
had  which  treated  of  this  idle 
abfurd  fcience  of  magic,  and 
publickly  burnt  them — The 
value  of  thefe  books,  which 
were  now  confumed,  amount- 
ed, according  to  a  calculation 
then  taken,  to  fifty  thoufand 
pieces  of  filver. 

20  In  this  illuftrious  and 
powerful  manner  did  Clirifti- 
anity  flourifh  and  triumph  o- 
ver  all  oppofition. 

§  —  21  After  this  Paul 
formed  a  refolution  to  take  a 
tour  through  Macedonia  and 
Achaia,  to  Jerufalem,  and 
from  thence  to  viiit  Rome. 

22    Accordingly    he    dif- 

patched  two  of  his  afibciates, 

F  t  2  Titriochy 


43^ 


^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xix'. 


Timothy  and  Eraftus,  to  Ma- 
cedonia  but  himlclt  ftaid 

Ibme  time  in   Afia  aker  he 
had  difmiffed  them. 

23  But  during  this  inter- 
val there  happened  a  dreadful 
Icene  of  confufion  and  diflur- 
bance  about  the  ChriiVian  re- 
ligion, on  the  following  oc- 
cafion. 

24  One  Demetrius  a  filver- 
fmith,  who  had  acquired  an 
immenfe  fortune  by  calling 
little  filver  models,  in  minia- 
ture, of  the  temple  of  Diana, 

25  one  day  coUefted  toge- 
ther all  the  artills  he  employ- 
ed, and  thus  harang-ued  them 
—  "I  need  not  inform  you. 
Sirs  !  what  prodigious  advan- 
tages we  have  all  of  us  deriv- 
ed from  that  branch  of  bu- 
linefs  in  which  we  are  con- 
cerned. 

26  Neither  can  you  be  ig- 
norant, whatanallonifliing  re- 
volution this  Paul  hath  occa- 
fioned  not  only  in  this  city, 
but  almoft  in  all  the  procon- 
fular  Afia — iritl  what  num- 
bers have  been  alienated,  by 
his  delufive  perfuafions,  from 
their  attachment  to  the  e- 
ftablifiied  worfhip  — -  public- 
ly proclaiming  every  v/here, 
and  expofing  the  abfurdity  of 
adoring;  aods  that  human  art 
hath  formed. 

27  A  doftrine,  which  fa- 
tally endangers  not  only  thai 
lucrative  article,  in  which  we 


are  all  interefted,  but  ftrikes 
at  the  very  foundation  of  that 
fanftity  which  is  due  to  the 
temple  of  our  illuftrious  god- 
defs  Diana — being  calculated 
to  bring  her  divinity  into  u- 
niverfal  contempt  —  her  fa- 
cred  divinity,  which  not  only 
all  Afia,  but  all  the  world  re- 
ligioufly  venerate." 

28  This  fpeech  inflamed 
the  affembly  with  rage  and 
madnefs — Infbantly  they  raif- 
ed  a  loud  and  confufed  cla- 
mour, repeating  —  Great  is 
Diana  of  the  Ephefians  \ 

29  The  v>^hole  city  im- 
mediately caught  the  alarm, 
and  was  filled  with  the  moft 
tumultuous  uproar  and  con- 
fufion—  Hiey  feized  Gaius 
and  Ariftarchus,  both  Mace- 
donians, and   companions  of 

Paul and  drag-o-ed  them 

into  the  theatre. 

30  Paul  hearing  of  the  fate 
of  thefe  men  declared  his  in- 
tention of  follov/ing  them  in- 
to tl:c  theatre — but  the  Chrif- 
tians  reftrained  him. 

31  Some  too  of  the  go- 
vernors of  Afia  propria,  who 
v.'ere  his  friends,  lent  to  him, 
and  advifed  him,  by  no  means 
to  commit  himfelf  to  the  mer- 
cy of  an  incenfed  rabble. 

32  The  tumult  continued 
— fome  bellowinLi;  one  thing;, 
fome  another  —  For  the  mob 
[hat  was  now   collecfted   to- 
gether 


chap.  XIX.     T/je  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


gethcr,  were  wound  up  to 
the  higheft  pitch  of  violence 
and  fux-y tho'  the  ma- 
jority of  them  knew  not  what 
it  was  that  had  brought  them 
together. 

33  In  the  midft  of  this 
confufed  fcene  the  Jews  pufh- 
ed  forward,  and  placed  one 
Alexander  on  an  eminence — 
He  being  exalted  above  the 
crowd,  made  a  motion  to 
them  with  his  hand,  intend- 
ing in  a  formal  harangue 
to  exculpate  the  Jews  from 
any  concern  in  the  prefent 
riot. 

34  But  the  mob  no  iboner 
underilocd  that  he  was  a  Jew, 
than  they  pierced  the  air  with 
their  confufed  cries,  repeat- 
ing for  two  hours  together — 
Great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephe- 
fians ! 

Q^^  After  this  the  recorder 
of  the  city,  having  by  his 
authority  quafhed  the  riot 
and  fupprelTed  the  tumult, 
thus  addrefled  them  —  "  O 
ye  Ephefians !  Can  any  per- 
Ibn  be  a  ftranger  to  that  pro- 
found and  inviolable  reve- 
rence which  the  city  of  E- 
phelus  pays  to  its  great  tu- 
telar Goddels  Diana,  and  to 


437 

that  facred  Statue,  which  fell 
down  trom  '''  Jupiter  ? 

36  Since,  therefore,  this  is 
an  undifputed  truth,  never 
called  in  queftion  by  any  one, 
it  was  certainly  incumbent 
upon  you  to  have  behaved 
with  greater  prudence  and 
decency,  and  not  have  been 
guilty  of  fo  ra(h  and  preci- 
pitate a  conduct. 

'^^  For  you  have  appre- 
hended and  abufed  thefe 
men,  who  have  neither  been 
guilty  of  facrilege,  or  ever 
treated  your  Goddefs  with 
any  irreverent  language. 

38  If  Demetrius  and  his 
workmen  have  juft  com- 
plaints againll  any  perfon, 
there  are  magiftrates,  and 
there  are  proconfuls,  who 
will  impartially  hear  and  de- 
cide their  caufe. 

39  Or  if  you  are  defirous 
that  any  other  important 
point  fliould  be  determined, 
let  it  be  examined  and  agi- 
tated  in  a  lawful  and  regular 
court. 

40  For  let  me  affure  you. 
That  we  are  in  danger  of  be- 
ing called  upon,  by  our  fu- 
periors,  to  give  an  account 
of   the    prefent   difturbance 


^  Zi/oT?T«<.  The  avarice  of  the  priefts  forged  this  abfurd  fuperftitious 
tnle.  The  Romans  were  taught  the  fame  farce  concerning  the  facred 
/Inciliii. 

Ecre  levi  fcututn  verfatum  lenitcr  aura 

Defidit— r  O-uliL  FaJJi,   Lib.  3.  373. 

F  f  3  — and 


43^ 


The  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xx. 


— and  it  is  impoflible  for  us 
to  alledge  any  juftifiable  rea- 
I'on  for  its  being  ever  ex- 
cited." 

41  After  faying  this,  he 
ordered  the  mob  to  difperfc. 

CHAP.    XX. 

T  A  FTER  this  dia-urb- 
■**•  ance  was  fupprcfled 
the  apoRie  Paul  convoked 
the  Chriftians — and  after  tak- 
ino:  an  afieftionate  leave  of 
them,  departed  for  Mace- 
donia. 

2  After  travelling  through 
this  country,  and  in  many 
difcourfes  exhorting  the  fe- 
veral  focieties  of  Chriftians 
there,  to  adhere  to  their  prin- 
ciples, he  came  into  Greece. 

3  Here  he  ftaid  three 
months  —  and  receivino;  in- 
formation  that  the  ^f^^'^^^  had 
formed  a  confpiracy  to  mur- 
der him  when  he  embarlced 
for  Syria,  he  altered  his  firft 
intention,  and  now  propofed 
to  return  through  Macedonia. 

4  He  v/as  accompanied  in 
this  journey  as  far  ns  Afia 
minor  by  Sopater  of  Berica, 
by  Ariftarchus  and  Secundus 
of  Theflalonica,  by  Gaius  of 
Derbe,  and  Timothy,  and  by 
Tvchicus  and  Trophimus  of 
Aha. 

/;   The   above-m.entioned 


perfons  had  fet  out  before  ■* 
us,  and  by  appointment  ftaid 
for  us  at  Troas. 

6  As  foon  as  the  Jewifti  fo- 
lemnity  of  unleavened  bread 
was  paft,  we  embarked  from 
Philippi,  and  after  a  paffage 
of  five  days  joined  them  at 

Troas where  we  fpent  a 

week . 

7  The  affembly  of  Chrifti- 
ans in  this  town  being  met  on 
the  firft  day  of  the  week  to 
celebrate  the  Lord's  fupper, 
Paul  preached  to  them — and 
as  he  was  to  leave  them  the 
next  day  he  protraded  his  dif- 
courfe  'till  midnighr. 

8  The  upper  room,  ia 
which  the  congregation  met, 
was  lighted  with  a  great  num- 
ber of  lamps. 

9  Here  a  young  perfon, 
whofe  name  was  EutychuSj 
happening  to  fit  in  a  window, 
as  the  apoftie  continued  on 
difcourfing,  funk  into  a  pro- 
found fleep  —  fc-i!  from  the 
third  ftory  to  t!ie  ground  — 
and  was  taken  up  dead. 

10  Upon  this  accident 
Paul  went  down  —  proftrated 
himfelf  on  the  body  and, 
after  folding  it  in  liis  arms, 
faid  to  the  company — Be  not 
diftrcfied — He  is  not  depart- 
ed. 

1 1  I'he  apoftie  then  reaf- 
cended — adminifteredthcEu- 


'■  The  ApoHIc /*«/</  and  Luke  the  Hillorian. 


:harift 


Chap.  XX.     T^he  Acts  of 

charift — and  afterwards  con- 
verfed  with  them  'till  the 
morn  in  2:  dawned — when  he 
departed. 

12  The  young  perfon  they 
had  reconduiled  into  the 
room  in  perfecl  heahh,  to  the 
inexpreffible  comfort  and  joy 
of  all  prefent. 

13  Going  then  on  board 
the  veficl  we  failed  to  Afibs 
— being  here  to  take  in  Paul 
according  to  appointment,  as 
he  intended  to  travel  hither 
by  ^  land. 

14  Upon  his  meeting  us 
at  Afibs,  we  took  him  into 
the  fhip,  and  failed  to  Mity- 
lene. 

15  The  day  following  we 
arrived  oppofite  Chios — The 
day  after  we  put  into  Samos 
— and  the  fubfequent  day,  af- 
ter ftaying  fome  time  at  Tro- 
gy Ilium,  we  arrived  at  Mile- 
tus: 

1 6  for  Paul  now  defigned- 
]y  failed  by  Ephefus  —  being 
apprehenfive  he  Ihould  be 
detained  too  long  in  the  pro- 
confular  Afia  —  making  all 
the  expedition  he  could  in 
fhis  voyage,  as  he  intended, 
if  poOible,  to  be  in  Jerufalem 
pn  the  day  of  Pentecoft. 

17  He  therefore,   on  our 


th  Apostles. 


439 


difembarkation  at  Miletus, 
immediately  difpatched  a 
mefiage  to  Ephefus  for  the 
fenior  Chriftians  of  that  city 
to  attend  him. 

1 8  On  their  waiting  upon 
him  in  a  body,  he  addrelled 
them  in  the  following  man- 
ner—  '*  You  are  no  ftrangers, 
my  Chriilian  brethren,  to  the 
whole  tenor  of  my  hfe  and 
converfation  among  you  from 
die  day  of  my  firil  arrival  in 
the  proconfuiar  Afia. 

19  You  are  witnefles  of 
the  unaffe6ted  humility  with 
which  I  ferved  my  God  —  I 
can  appeal  to  you  for  the  ma- 
ny forrows  and  fufferings  I 
havefupported,  and  the  floods 
of  tears  I  have  fhed,  occa- 
fioned  by  the  obftinate  impe- 
nitence and  implacable  ma- 
lice of  the  Jews. 

20  You  are  all  of  you  con- 
fcious  with  what  unwearied 
alTiduity  I  have  taught  the 
Chriilian  do6lrines  among 
you,  both  in  public  and  in  pri- 
vate, and  that  I  have  neither 
diflembled  or  concealed  any 
thing  that  might  conduce  to 
your  beil  interefts. 

2  I  I  have  ever  inculcated, 
both  upon  Jews  and  Greeks, 
in  the  llronszeft  and  moil  im- 


y  n^i^zvev  fignifies  to  tranjel  by  Imd.  It  doth  not  imply  that  the  apoills 
•travelled  on  foot  as  the  common  tranllatioii  renders  it.  •'  Cato  repented 
only  of  three  things  in  his  whole  lite  :  x^\q.  firjl  was,  that  he  had  trailed  a 
woman  with  a  fecret :  the /ecom^,  that  he  had  gone  by  fea,  when  he  might 
have  travdlcd  by  lauciy  Ti^iv^at.     Plutarch  Cato,  p.  625. 


Ff  4 


portunarc 


ne  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap,  xx* 


440 

portunate  terms,  the  great 
tundamental  do<5lrines  of  re- 
pentance and  amendment  of 
life,  and  a  fincere-  belief  in 
the  divine  mifTion  of  ourLord 
and  Saviour  the  Meffiah. 

22  I  am  now  going  up  to 
Jerufalem,  urged  to  it  by  a 
ftrong  impulfe  of  the  fpirit, 
but  totally  ignorant  what 
future  occurrences  await  me 
there. 

23  J  know  only  this.  That 
the  holy  fpirit  in  every  city  I 
have  pafled  through,  hath 
exprefsly  and  repeatedly  pre- 
dicted my  imprifonment,  and 
a  feries  of  afflidlions,  in  which 
I  am  to  be  involved. 

24  But  the  profpecl  of  thefe 
evils  give  me  no  diftrefs  — 
nor  do  I  fet  any  value  upon  a 
precarious  being,  provided  I 
can  but  finifh  the  '■  race  of 
life  with  honour  and  applaufe 
— and  difcharge,  in  a  worthy 
manner,  the  arduou?  pro- 
vince my  Saviour  hath  afPign- 
ed  me,  of  proclaiming  to  the 
world  the  joyful  news  of  the 
divine  benignity, 

25  I  am  now  leaving  you 
— and  am  confcious  that  you, 
among  whom  I  Ipent  fuch  a 
confiderable  time  in  propagat- 
ing theChriftian  religion,  fhall 
never  lee  me  more. 


26  Let  me,  therefore,  at 
this  time  folemnlv  afTure  you 
in  the  fight  of  God,  that  I 
have  faithfully  admoniflied 
you,  and  am  acce.ffary  to  no 
one  pcrfon's  dcftruution  : 

27  for  the  whole  plan  and 
defign  of  the  gofpcl  difpen- 
fation,  which  infinite  v/iidom 
hath  publifhed  to  the  vvorld, 
I  have  exhibited  before  you 
with  the  grcateft  fidelity  and 
impartiality,  without  the  wil- 
ful concealment  of  any  thing. 

.-|-28  Exercife  therefore  the 
grcateft  vigilance  over  your 
own  condutf,  and  over  that 
fiock^  of  which  God  hatli  ap- 
pointed you  pajicrs  —  and  be 
careful  to  feed  with  falutary 
doctrines  thofe  fheep  which 
Chrifi;  hath  purchaied  with 
his  blood. 

29  Thefe  admonitions  flow 
from  a  confcioufnefs,  that 
after  my  departure  furious 
wolves  will  enter  and  ravage 
the  fold  with  unfparing  cru- 
elty and  rage. 

30  And  even  among ^'czcr- 
fehes^  there  will  rile  up  pcr- 
ions,  that  will  corrupt  the  (im- 
plicity  of  the  goipel,  and  by 
their  perverfe  dodtrines  form 
violent  and  furious  parties 
among  you. 

3 1  Be  vigilant,  therefore, 


'■  ^pouov.  This  word  is  very  often  ufed  to  exprefs  the  Olympic  race — and 
^o  this  the  apoftle  here  alludes.  See  z  Tim.  iv.  7.  I  have  fiuifiied  my 
yaa,  tf'poij.iii .  ,. 


chap.  xxi.     lihe  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

and  remember  with  what  un- 
remitting diligence,  day  and 
night,  for  three  years  to^e- 


441 


three 
ther,    I    inflrucled    you    all, 
mingling     my     admonitions 
with  my  tears. 

32  And  now,  my  dear 
Chrillian  brethren,  I  affec- 
tionately recommend  you  to 
the  blefling  of  that  God, 
who  is  able  to  eftablilli  you 
in  Chriftian  harmony  and 
love,  and  to  bellow  upon 
you  everlafting  felicity  a- 
mong  the  virtuous  in  the  re- 
gions of  immortality. 

33  I  can  lolemnly  appeal 
to  God,  That  I  have  not  in- 
dulged a  fingle  wifh  for  the 
gold,  the  filver,  the  drefs  of 
any  one  perfon. 

34  So  far  fi"om  this,  you 
are  witnefles  that  theie  hands 
liave  procured  me  and  my 
friends  the  necelTaries  of  life. 

35  By  my  own  example  I 
have  taught  you  how  much 
it  is  our  duty,  by  the  dint  of 
our  own  induflry  to  acquire 
fomethlng  to  affifl:  unhappy 
obje6ls — and  to  imprels  upon 
our  mind  the  elegant  and  in- 
ftruftive  maxim  of  our  blef- 
fed  Lord — It  is  a  g;reatcr  fe- 
iicity  to  heftow  than  to  receive 
a  benefaftion." 

36  After  having  faid  this 
he  kneeled  down,  and  pray- 
ed with  them. 

37  They  all  melted  into 
tears  — thev  fell  on  his  neck 


—  and  folded  him  to  their 
bofoms  with  the  mod  tender 
embraces, 

0^%  difTolved  in  a  flood  of 
grief  at  the  refledlion,  that 
they  ihould   never   fee   him 

more and  this  affefting 

fcene  lafted  till  we  got  to  the 
veflel,  whither  they  accom- 
panied us. 

CHAP.    XXI. 

I  'T^ORN  from  them  at 
-■'  laft,  we  launched  in- 
to the  deep,  and  enjoyed  a 
prolperous  gale  to  the  ifland 
of  Cos  —  The  next  day  we 
failed  to  Rhodes,  and  from 
thence  to  Patara. 

2  Here  meeting  a  (hip  that 
was  bound  to  Phoenicia,  we 
embarked  on  board  of  it. 

3  We  then  made  the  ifland 
of  Cyprus  — which  we  paffed 
to  the  left,  and  failing  dire6t- 
ly  for  Syria,  arrived  at  Tyre, 
where  the  veflel  was  to  un- 
load. 

4  Here  we  made  a  ftay  of 
feven  days — having  met  with 
fome  Chriftians,  who  by  the 
ipirit  of  prophecy  cautioned 
Paul  againft  going  up  to  Je- 
rufalem. 

5  But  after  this  fpace  was 
elapfed  we  left  the  city,  and 
recomm.enced  our  journey, 
attended  out  of  the  town  by 
all  theTyrian  Chriftians  with 
their  wives  and  children 

We 


The  Acts  of  the  Avqstl^s.    Chap.  xxi. 


442 

We  then  kneeled  down  upon 
the  beach  and  prayed. 

6  After  mutual  embraces 
we  parted  from  them,  and 
went  on  board. 

7  Sailing  from  Tyre  we 
arrived  at  Ptolemais  —  and 
waiting  upon  the  Chriftian 
fociety  there,  fpent  one  day 
with  them. 

8  The  next  day  we  arrived 
at  Caifarea,  and  lodged  with 
Philip  the  cvangelift  —  who 
had  been  chofen  one  of  the 
feven  managers  of  the  chari- 
table fund. 

9  This  perfon  had  four 
unmarried  daughters,  who 
were  all  endowed  with  pro- 
phetic gifts. 

10  During  a  flay  of  feveral 
days  that  we  made  in  this 
city,  there  arrived  a  prophet 
from  Judcca,  v/hofe  name  was 
Agabus. 

1 1  Tliis  perfon,  upon  his 
coming  among  us,  took  Paul's 
girdle — bound  his  own  hands 
and  feet  with  it  —  and  after 
this  folemn  iignificant  a6lion, 
thus  addreflcd  the  company 
' — The  infallible  fpirit  of  God 
exprefsly  declares — That  the 
perfon,  to  Vv'hom  this  girdle 
belongs,  fhall  in  Jerufalem  be 
bound  in  this  manner,  and 
be  delivered  up  into  the 
power  of  the  Heathens. 

12  Upon  hearing  fuch  a 
folemn  declaration  uttered, 
both  vv'c,  and  the  Chriftians 


of  that  tov/n,  begged  him  in 
the  mod  pathetic  and  impor- 
tunate terms  not  on  any  ac- 
count  to  venture  into  the  me- 
tropolis. 

1 3  To  thefe  our  earnefb 
entreaties  he  replied  —  My 
dear  friends  !  why  do  you 
weep  and  tear  my  heart  by 
this  affeding  tendernefs !  — 
I  am  prepared  to  meet,  with 
chearfulnefs,  not  only  im- 
prifonment,  but  every  form 
of  death,  for  the  gofpel  of 
Jefus. 

14  Finding  it  impoflible 
to  fiiake  his  deliberate  refo- 
lution,  we  ceafed  our  impor- 
tunity, and  only  added  — 
May  the  will  of  God  be 
done  ! 

15  Some  time  after  we 
loaded  our  carriages,  and  ad- 
vanced towards  the  capital, 

16  attended  by  fome 
Chrillians  of  Casfarea —  who 
concluded  us  to  the  houfe  of 
one  Mnafon,  with  whom  we 
were  to  lodge  —  v»'ho  was  a 
native  of  Cyprus,  and  had 
been  one  of  the  early  con- 
verts to  Chriftianity. 

§ — 17  After  our  arrival 
in  Jerufalem  we  waited  upon 
our  Chriflian  brethren,  who 
gave  us  a  very  affecHonate 
reception. 

1 8  The  day  after  Paul  went 

along  with  us  to  James 

where  we  found  all  the  fenior 
Chriftians  ailembled. 

19  After 


Chap.  xxi.    The  Acts  of 

19  After  mutual  faluta- 
tions  he  gave  the  company  a 
minute  detail  of  the  amazing 
revolution  that  God  had  ef- 
fected by  his  miniftry  among 
the  Heathens. 

20  After  he  had  finilhed 
his  narration,  all  the  afTem- 
bly  with  pious  gratitude  fer- 
vently celebrated  the  divine 
goodnefs — After  paying  this 
devout  acknowledgment  they 
turned  to  him,  and  tlius  fpoke 
—  Dear  Chriilian  brother  ! 
you  cannot  be  ignorant  how 
many  myriads  there  are  of 
the  Jews  who  have  embraced 
the  Chrill:ian  religion,  and  yet 
who  are,  every  individual  of 
them,  moil  zealous  advocates 
for  the  law  of  Mofes, 

21  Now  thefe  have  been 
informed  that  you  have  made 
it  your  conflant  pradice  in 
every  town  among  the  Hea- 
thens where  any  Jews  are 
fettled,  to  preach  up  to  thefe 
a  non-conformity  to  the  Mo- 
faic  law — aflerting,  that  they 
are  now  under  no  necefiity 
to  circumcife  their  children, 
or  to  adhere  to  its  external 
fites. 

22  What  meafures  are, 
therefore,  to  be  purfued  '^.  — 
You  may  alTure  yourfelf, 
that  the  moment  they  hear 
you  are  in  town,  they  will 
meet  and  make  ftrid:  en- 
quiries into  your  condufl  in 
this  refpect. 


the  Apostles. 


443 


23  We  would,  therefore, 
by  all  means  advife  you  to 
ad  in  the  follov/ing  manner 
—  There  are  now  am.ono- 
us  four  perfons,  wlio  have 
impofed  upon  themfelves  the 
Nazarite's  vow. 

24  Take  thefe  perfons 
pubiickly  along  with  you  — . 
fubmit  to  the  legal  purificati- 
on in  common  with  them— - 
defray  their  expences, required 
on  fuch  occafions — and  fuffer 
your  head,  equally  with  them, 
to  be  fhaved  —  in  order  that 
they  all  may  fee  that  there  is 
no  foundation  in  the  report, 
that  hath  been  tranfmitted  hi- 
ther of  your  condud,  but 
that  you  are  a  ftrift  con- 
formiil  to  the  injunction  of 
the  law. 

25  As  for  the  Heathens, 
who  have  embraced  Chrifti- 
anity,  we  have  prefcribed 
rules  for  their  conduft — hav- 
ing unanimoufly  judged  it 
proper  to  impofe  no  other 
burden  upon  them,  but  only 
prohibit  them  from  tailing  a- 
ny  meat  that  hath  been  de- 
voted to  an  idol,  from  eatino- 
any  animal  that  been  flrang- 
led,  to  abflain  from  blood, 
and  to  refrain  from  debauch- 
ery. 

26  Paul  accordingly  took 
thefe  perfons  along  with  him 

and  the  next  day  being 

legally  purified   in  common 
with    them,     went   into  the 

temple 


ne  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xxf. 


444 

temple  to  give  public  notice 
to  the  priefts  of  his  having 
purified  and  bound  himlelf 
with  a  religious  vow  along 
with  four  other  perfons — de- 
claring alfo  the  time  when 
this  vow  was  made,  and  the 
oblations  he  would  offer  for 
every  one  of  them  at  his  own 
expence,  when  the  time  of 
their  vow  was  accomplifhed. 

27  But  when  the  feven 
days,  the  tim.e  which  the  law 
prefcribed,  v/ere  almoft  com- 
pleted, fome  Jews  of  minor 
Afia  happening  to  fee  him 
in  the  temple,    immediately 

incited  all  the  populace 

rufhed  upon  him — and  feized 
him. 

28  Vehemently  exclaim- 
ing— Ifraelites !  Help !  Help ! 
— This  is  the  perfon  v/ho  by 
his  dodrines  hath  been  in- 
flaming the  palTions  of  every 
man,  in  every  place,  againft 
the  Jews — againft  the  law — 
and  againft  this  facred  place 
— He  hath  even  had  the  im- 
pious effrontery  to  bring 
Greeks  with  him  into  the 
temple  —  and  hath  polluted 
the  fandity  of  this  holy 
place. 

29  They  faid  this,  becaufe 
they  had  a  little  before  feen 
Trophimus  an  Ephefian  a- 
long  with  him  in  the  city  — 
and  they  inftantly  concluded 


he  had  brought  him  into  the 
temple. 

30  Upon  this  the  whole 
city  was  immediately  raifed 
— all  the  people  rufhed  furi- 
oufly,  at  once,  upon  him  — 
feized  —  dragged  him  out  of 
the  temple — whofe  doors  were 
inftantly  ftiut. 

3 1  Being  now  determined 
to  murder  him,  news  was 
carried  to  the  Roman  tribune, 
that  the  whole  city  was  in  a 
dreadful  commotion. 

32  That  moment  he  took 
the  centurions  and  the  armed 
cohort,  an'  rufhed  among  the 
mob — Who  when  they  faw 
the  Roman  officer  and  his 
men,  defifted  from  any  far- 
ther violence  to  his  perlbn. 

33  The  tribune  advanced 
forward  — -  took  him  from  a- 
mong  them — and  ordered  him 
to  be  confined  with  two  chains 
—  He  then  afKed,  Who  he 
was — and  what  crime  h«  had 
committed. 

34  To  thefe  queftions  fome 
of  the  mob  bellowed  one  thing, 
fome  another  —  The  officer, 
not  being  able  to  learn  any 
thing  fatisfattory  from  the  tu- 
multuous and  enraged  mul- 
titude, gave  immediate  or-^ 
ders  for  his  being  conduced 
into  the  caftle. 

'^c^  When  he  was  got  to 
the  bottom  of  the  *  ftairs  that 

led 

*  This  paflagc  in  our  hiftorian  is  confirmed  and  illuftrated  by  the  mi- 
nute account  Jofiphus  gives  of  the  Ci^iMe  J/itoaia,  which  the  .Rc//;rt;;i  occu- 
pied. 


Chap.  xxii.    The  Picr^  of 

led  to  the  caftle,  fuch  was  the  | 
determined  fury  and  ferocity 
of  the  mob,  that  the  foldiers 
were  obliged  to  carry  him  in 
their  arms. 

36  For  an  immenfe  crowd 
followed,  piercing  the  air 
with  their  cries,  and  repeat- 
ins — Dracr  him  to  the  place 
of  execution  I 

37  Paul  now  going  to  en- 
ter within  the  caftle  faid  to 

the  tribune  in  Greek Will 

you  permit  me  to  fpeak  with 
you — What !  faid  the  officer, 
do  you  underftand  Greek  ? 

38  Are  not  you  that ''E- 
gyptian,  who  raifed  fuch  a 
difturbance  fome  time  ago, 
and  marched  four  thoufand 
afiaffins  into  the  wildernefs  ? 

39  No,  Sir !  faid  Paul — I 
am  a  Jew  —  a  native  of  Tar- 
fus  in  Cilicia,  a  citizen  of  no 
obfcure  place — and  I  beg  you 
would  permit  me  to  fpeak  to 
the  coUeded  multitude. 

40  The  tribune  aflenting. 


the  Apostles.  445 

Paul  ftood  upon  the  ftairs  -— 
made  a  motion  with  his  hand 
to  the  people — upon  which  a 
profound  filence  being  made, 
he  thus  addrelTed  them  in  the 
Hebrew  language. 

CHAP.  xxir. 

I  "  "DRETHREN  and 
•*-'  fathers  !  Let  me  im- 
plore your  candid  confider- 
ation  of  the  apology  I  now 
prefume  to  offer  to  you. 

2  The  audience  hearing 
him  fpeak  in  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage was  all  filence  and  at- 
tention— He  proceeded. 

3  I  am  a  Jew,  a  native  of 
Tarfus  in  Cilicia,  but  was  e- 
ducated  in  this  city  under  the 
care  of  Gamaliel —  I  was  ini- 
tiated into  the  moft  accurate 
knowledge  of  the  law,  and 
was  once  as  warm  a  zealot 
for  its  '  dignity  and  excel- 
lence, as  you  now  are. 

4  For  fo  fanguine  were  my 


pied.  KaSstcT?  o-yrjjTTc,  y..T.\.  On  that  fide  where  the  caftle  joined  to  the 
porticoes  of  the  temple  it  had_/?<j/>j  that  communicated  with  each  other  : 
down  which  the  guards  defcending,  for  there  was  always  a  Roman  legion 
lodged  here,  and  taking  their  ftations  in  different  places  about  the  por- 
ticoes prevented  any  dillurbances  during  the  celebration  of  their  public 
feftivals.  For  as  the  temple  was  a  fortrefs  to  the  city,  fo  Antonia  was  a 
fortrefs  to  the  temple.     Jo/ephus,  B.  J.  Lib.  5.  c.  5.  §  8.     Hud/on. 

''  yo/f/Z-wj  mentions  this  perfon  in  two  places  of  his  hiftory.  yiii^cvt 
tT*  Tat-'THi^  TAH^/.i,  ;t.  T.  A.  "  But  an  Egyptian  falfe  prophet  involved 
the  Jc^is  in  a  much  greater  calamity.  This  impoftor  came  into  the 
country,  affumed  the  title  of  prophet,  collected  about  thirty  thoufand 
whom  he  had  deceived,  led  them  round  out  of  the  wildernefs  to  mount 
Oli-ves,  intended  to  force  the  Roman  garrifon,  to  throw  himfelf  into  the 
city,  and  by  means  of  his  affociates^ make  himfelf  king.     'Qmx  F dix  zx 


once  qualhed  his  defigns.    B.  J.  Lib.  2.  c.  13.  §  c. 

«  See  Camb.  MS.  which  is  undoubtedly  the  true  reading. 


prepof- 


me. 


The  AcT5  -of  the  Apostles.    Chap.  xxii. 

fixed  in  horror  and  aftonifli- 
ment — But  the  voice  that  was 
add  reded  to  me  they  did  not 
hear. 

I  o  I  then  faid — Lord !  What 
wouldelt  thou  have  me  do? 
— Rife,  he  anfwered,  and  go 

into  the  city Thou   (halt 

there  receive  full  information 
of  the  duties  I  have  appoint- 
ed thee  to  perform. 

Ill  rofe,  but  the  dazzling 
glory  of  that  light  had  totally 
deprived  me  of  my  fight,  fo 
that  my  companions  were  o- 
bliged  to  condu6l  me  by  the 
hand  into  Damafcus. 

12  There  was  in  the  city 
at  that  time  one  Ananias,  a 
devout  obferver  of  the  law  of 
Mofes,  and  univerfally  e- 
ftcemed  by  the  Jews  who  re- 
fided  there. 

1 3  This  perfon  came,  flood 
over  me,  and  pronounced 
thefe  words  : — Brother  Saul  \ 
Be  thou  reftored  to  thy  for- 
mer fight !  —  That  moment 
I  recovered  it,  and  faw  my 
benefaftor  clearly  and  dif- 
tindlly. 

14  The  God  of  our  fore- 
fatliers,  he  then  faid  to  mc, 
hath  been  gracioufly  pleated 
to  favour  thee  with  the  dil  • 
tinguilhed  happincfsof  know- 
inty  his  will,  of  feeino-  the  ho- 
ly  Mcfllah,  and  hearing  him 
fpcak. 

15  For  by  this  incident 
thou  art  now  defignedly  qua- 
lified to  atteft  to  all  mankind 

the 


446 

prcpofi^eflions  in  favour  of  ir. 
that  I  perlbcuted  the  Chril- 
tian  fed;  with  the  mofc  impla 
cable  and  blood-thirfty  rage 
— feizing,  binding,  confining 
in  jails,  perfon s  of  both  fexes 
indifcriminately,  who  had  em- 
braced its  doftrincs. 

5  For  the  truth  of  this  I 
can  appeal  to  the  high  pried, 
and  to  the  whole  body  of  the 
Sanhedrim — from  whom'l 
received  letters  of  recommen- 
dation to  the  Jews  in  Damaf- 
cus——To  which  place  I  fet 
out  with  a  determined  refolu- 
tion  to  apprehend  all  I  could 
meet  there  who  profefiedChrif- 
tianity,  and  drag  them  in  fet- 
ters to  the  capital  to  receive 
condign  punilhment. 

6  But  as  I  was  travelling, 
and  had  now  advanced  within 
a  little  diftance  from  Damaf- 
cus, it  being  now  about  noon, 
all  on  a  fudden  a  flood  of 
light  from  the  fky  darted  its 
effulgent    fplendors    around 


7  By  its  immenfe  and  ir- 
refiftible  effufion  I  was  inftant- 
ly  ftruck  to  the  earth — v^here 
as  I  lay  proflrate,  I  heard  the 
following  words  iblemnly  ut- 
tered—"Saul!  Saul!  Why 
doil  thou  perfecute  me ! 

8  Lord  !  who  art  thou,  I 
replied — 1  am,  faid  he,  Jefus 
of  Nazareth,  whom  thou  art 
perfecuting. 

9  This  amazing  light  all 
my  companions  faw  and  were 

4 


Chap.  xxIL 

the  truth  of  what  thou  haft 
feen,  and  what  thou  haft 
heard. 

1 6  Rife,  therefore,  immedi- 
ately —  invoke  the  name  of 
Jefus — and  be  baptized,  that 
the  ftain  of  thy  former  crimes 
may  for  ever  be  effaced. 

1 7  Returning  after  this  to 
Jerufalem,  as  I  v/as  praying 
in  the  temple,  I  found  my 
faculties  immediately  abforb- 
cd  in  an  ecftacy. 

1 8  The  following  fcene 
w^as  then  exhibited — He  ap- 
peared to  me  and  thus  fpoke 
— ''  Hafte,  fly  wuth  precipi- 
tate fteps  out  of  Jerufalem  — 
for  the  moftfolemn  aflertions 
that  thou  haft  fcen  and  heard 
me,  will  all  be  rejeded,  by 
them. 

1 9  Lord !  I  refumed,  they 
will  furely  credit  my  teftimo- 

ny  concerning  thefe  fa6ts 

for  they  all  know  how  zeal- 
ous and  aftive  I  was  in  pro- 
fecuting,  imprifoning,  and 
Icourging  in  the  fynagogues 
the  profeflbrs  of  thy  religion. 

20  They  all  knew,  when 
they  imbrued  their  hands  in 
the  blood  of  thy  martyr  Ste- 
phen, what  a  chearful  fuf- 
frage  I  gave  to  this  public 
murder,  and  with  what  con- 
Icious  pleafure  I  prefided  at 
k  —  the  upper  garments  of 


The  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


447 

his  murderers  being  depofit- 
ed  with  mie. 

2 1  He  then  faid  to  me  — 
Quit  'this  place  immediately 
—  for  I  will  fend  thee  to 


publifh  thefe  truths  in  the 
remote  countries  of  the  Hea- 
thens." 

2  2  No  fooner  was  this  laft 
word  pronounced,  but  tho* 
they  had  been  decent  before, 
they  at  once  univerfally  raif- 
ed  the  moft  vehemient  and 
confufed  clamours — fcream- 

ing  and  repeating Clear 

the  earth  of  fuch  a  wicked 
monfter  !  Let  him  not  live  a 
moment  longer ! 

23  The  whole  vaft  multi- 
tude was  now  tranfported  in- 
to all  the  excefles  of  the  moft 
violent  rage  and  madnefs  — - 
they  tore  off  their  cloaths  — 
pierced  the  air  with  their  cries 
—  and  threw  clouds  of  duft 
into  it. 

24  The  tribune  feeing  this 
tumultuous  fcene,  ordered 
him  immediately  to  be  con- 
ducted into  the  caftle,  and  to 
be  examined  by  fcourging, 
that  he  mi^ht  learn  what  he 
had  done  that  enraged  the 
mob  thus  violently  againft 
him. 

25  As  the  foldiers,  there- 
fore, were  faftening  him  with 
thongs   to  the   pillar,    Paul 


*■  Heu !  fuge  nate  dea,  teque  his  ait,  cripe  flammi?.     Virg. 


faid. 


44^  ^he  Acts  of  the  Aposf^ES. 

faid  to  the  centurion  who  was 
appohited  to  attend  —  Doth 
the  Roman  law  authorize  you 
to  fcourge  a  freeman  of  Rome 
before  a  "  legal  lentence  ha-'' 
been  pafled  upon  him.  "'•■' 
7.6  The  centurion,  hearing 
this,  went  immediately  to  the 
tritpune  —  bidding  him  be 
cautious  how  he  a(!:ted  on  the 

prefcnt  occafiori •  for  the 

prifoner   was    a    Roman  ci- 
tizen. 

27  The  tribune  upon  this 
information  went  to  him,  iind 
faid  —  "  Tell  me  the  truth 
- — Are  you  a  freeman  of 
Rome  ? "  —  He  anfwered  in 
the  affirmative. 

28  It  colt  mc  an  immenfe 
fum,  faid  the  tribune,  to  pur- 
chafe  this  privilege  —  But  I 
•was  the  fon  of  a  freeman, 
faid  the  apoftle. 

29  Immediately,  there- 
fore, thofe  who  were  ordered 
to  examine  him  by  torture, 
defifted — and  tiie  tribune  was 
extremely  alarmed  that  he 
ivad  bound  a  Roman  citizen. 

§ — 30  The  next  day  the 
Roman  tribune  beins;  defir- 


Chap.  xxiii. 

ous"  to  know  what  were  the 
crimes  the  Jews  alledgcd  a- 
^ainft  him,  difpatched  orders 
for  the  high  priefts  and  San- 
hedrim to  convene  a  general 
council — which  when  it  was 
convoked,  he  ordered  the  a- 
poftle's  fetters  to  be  knocked 
off — brought  him  out  of  the 
caftlc — and  placed  him  before 
the  court. 


Chap,  xxiii.  i  Paul  fixing 
his  eyes  intenfely  upon  the 
affembly  thus  addreffed  him- 
felf  to  them "  My  breth- 
ren !  when  I  take  a  review  of 
my  pall  life,  I  can  appeal  to 
God  that  I  have  ever  main- 
tained an  inviolable  probity 
of  heart  to  this  moment. 

2  This  fentence  was  no 
fooner  pronounced  but  the 
high  prieft  ordered  the  appa- 
ritors who  ftood  by  to  fmite 
him  on  the  face. 

3  Paul  upon  hearing  this 
fentence,  immediately  turned 
to  him  and  faid  —  God  will 
Ihortly  fmite  thee,  thou  pu- 
trid '  plaiilered  wall !  —  Doft 
thou    fit   here  to  adminifter 


^  C/Vr/-o's  celebrated  £;-/r/it;;  againll  F^rrw   is  replete  with   teftimonics 
of  this /?c;7//?/7Cuilom.    Facinus  ell  vinciri  civem  Romanum,   fcelus  ver- 

terari HuQcine  tanuem  omnia  reciderunt,   ut  civis  Romanus  in  pro- 

vincia  populi  Romani  —  deligatis  in  foro  virgis  csderetur  —  Nam  causa 
cognita  nmltipoiiunt  abfolvi,  incognita  quidcm  condemnari  nemo  potell. 
Cicero  in  Vcaxm.  M«f^5AA©-  VTr&Tivuv,  iva.  luv  iKii  CsAeuroM,  4/5- 
P«y/7.ni'  a.^iKoiAzvr.v  K/.tro  p«<f<P:/f,  f-riMyc-n'  u(  ravTtt  Tg  fin  Vui^akh- 
hvo.!  Taptf.trnv.cJTpocrT/SHO-n'  j/.utw.  Plutarch  Cafar.  p.  1 324.  Edit.  Steph. 
♦'  Ksx'5i//^.//?V-:.  '  Koi'/tfo)  Signifies  to  plaijier.  "  None  of  C«/o's  vilhs 
\vz.%flaijicrecl,  vakw to.u.im- .  Fhitnrch  Cnto,  T^.  6zo.  Edit.  Steph.  See  alio 
Matth.  xxiii.  ::~. 

equity. 


Chap,  xxiii.    The  Acts  oj 

equity,  and  yet  orderefi:  me  to 
be  ftruck  in  this  illegal  and 
iniquitous  manner  ? 

4  Some  who  ilood  by  faid 
to  him — ^Do  you  treat  God's 
high  prieft  with  luch  abulive 
inlblence  as  this  ? 

5  I  am  extremely  forry, 
faid  the  apoftle,  that  I  did 
not  know  he  was  the  high 
prieft  —  for  I  am  very  fenfi- 
ble  of  thejuiliceof  thatfcrip- 

tural  command ■  "  Thou 

fhalt  not  infult  the  governor 
of  thy  nation." 

6  Paul  being  confcious 
that  Ibme  members  of  the 
court  were  Sadducees,  and 
others  Pharifees  —  he  cried 
out  with  great  emotion  be- 
fore all  the  alTembly — "  My 
brethren  !  I  here  publickly 
avow  that  I  am  a  Pharifee, 
and  the  fon  of  a  Pharilec — It 
is  folcly  my  firm  undoubted 
perfuafioa  of  a  future  ftate 
that  hath  broug-ht  me  before 
this  tribunal. 

7  Upon  this  folemn  decla- 
ration of  his  fentiments  there 
immediately  enfued  a  fan- 
guine  contention  between  the 
feds  of  the  Pharifees  and 
Sadducees — which  was  foon 
blown  up  into  a  violent  facti- 
ous diiTenfion, 

8  For  the  Sadducees  deny 
a  future  fiate — and  maintain 
there  are  no  fuch  beings  as 
angels  and   immcrcal  fpirits 

VOL.    I. 


the  Apostles.  44^ 

—  But  the  Pharifees  ftrenu- 

oully  avow  thele  principles. 

9  I'he  contending  parties 
growing  vehement  and  noify, 
and  defending  their  refpedlive 
tenets  with  inflexible  violence^ 
and  the  moll  outrageous  cla- 
mours, fome  prielts  of  the 
Pharifaical  fe6l,  who  had 
been  cag:;erly  eno-ao-ed  in  this 
debate,  at  laft  laid  —  As  for 
ourfelves  we  are  perfedlly  fa- 
tisfied  that  there  is  nothing 
criminal  in  this  perlbn's  con- 
dud — If  an  angel,  or  a  glori- 
fied fpirit,  hath  deigned  to 
converle  with  him  and  in- 
ftruct  him  in  fome  important 
truths,  let  us  not  oppofe  the 
facred  will  of  heaven. 

10  In  fine,  difpiues  were 
ao-itated  with  fuch  dctermin- 
ed  virulence,  rancour  and  fu- 
ry, that  the  tribune  was  real- 
ly afraid  the  difputants  would 
tear  the  apoftle  in  pieces   a- 

mong  them He  therefore 

gave  orders  for  a  party  of  ibi- 
diers  inftantly  to  fally  out  of 
the  garriibn,  reicue  the  apof- 
tle by  force  from  among 
them,  and  rccondud  1  ini 
into  the  caftle. 

1 1  The  following^  nio-ht 
the  Tord  Jefus  appeared  to 
the  apoftle  in  a  vffion,  and 
thus  accofted  him — "  Paul, 
be  not  intimidated  —  Aflume 
an  undaunted  fortitude  —  As 
thou  haft  freely  publiflied  the 

G  g  trudis 


'^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.     Chap.  xxiu. 


450 

truths  of  my  religion  in  Jeru- 
falem,  be  afTured  thou  wilt 
alfo  publifh  and  atteft  them 
in  Rome. 

§ — 12  The  morning  after, 
feme  of  the  Jews  met  toge- 
ther by  appointment,  and 
entered  into  the  mofl  Iblemn 
mutual  engagement,  that 
they  would  neither  eat  nor 
drink  'till  they  had  aiTafTinat- 
ed  the  apoflle. 

1 3  There  were  above  forty 
perions,  who  were  alTociated 
in  this  confpiracy. 

14  Having  deliberately 
formed  this  refolution,  they 
immediately  repaired  to  the 
high  priefts  and  magiftrates, 
and  acquainted  them,  that 
they  had  all  mutually  entered 
into  a  mod  folemn  confede- 
racy that  they  would  neither 
eat  nor  drink  'till  they  had 
murdered  Paul. 

15  Now,  therefore,  added 
they,  do  you  difpatch  a  mef- 
fage  to  the  Roman  tribune 
to  bring  him  down  to-mor- 
row into  the  court,  intimat- 
ing a  dciire  to  obtain  a  more 
accurate  knowledge  of  his 
principles  and  caufe,  and  we 
"vvill  afiafTinate  him  before  he 
reaches  the  council. 

16  The  fon  of  the  apoftle's 
filler  getting  early  inreiiigence 
of  this  confpiracy  went  in- 
llantly  to  the  caftle,  and  dif- 
covered  it  to  liis  uncle. 

17  Paul  then    called  one 


of  the  centurions  to  him  and 
faid — Will  you  be  pleafed  to 
condu6t  this  young  man  to 

the  tribune- for  he  hath  a 

fecret  to  difclofe  to  him. 

18  The  conturion  took 
him,  and  introducing  him  to 
the  tribune,  faid,  that  Paul 
his  prifoner  had  begged  of 
hima  as  a  favour  that  he  would 
condu6t  this  young  perfon  to 
him,  as  he  had  fomething  of 
importance  to  communicate. 

19  The  tribune  then  took 
him  by  the  hand,  and  retir- 
ing into  a  private  apartment, 
aflced  him,  what  he  wanted 
to  difclofe  to  him. 

20  The  Jews,  Sir,  he  an- 
fwered,  have  agreed  to  fo- 
licit  you  to  bring  Paul  before 
the  court  to-morrow,  under 
a  pretence,  as  if  they  were 
defirous  to  gain  from  him  a 
more  particular  and  exafl  ac- 
count of  his  principles  and 
condu6V  : 

21  but  do  you,  Sir,  rejeft 
this  petition — for  there  are  a- 
bove  forty  men  v/ho  are  now 
lying  in  ambufli  to  murder 
him  by  the  way,  who  have 
all  bound  themfelves  by  the 
moil  folemn  adjurations  that 
they  will  neither  eat  nor  drink 
'till  they  have  imbrued  their 
hands  in  his  blood — and  they 
are  now  all  ready,  eagerly 
waiting  for  your  compliance 
v/ith  the  Jews'  requell. 

22  The   tribune    hearing 

this. 


Chap,  xxlli. 

this,  ftridly  charged  him  not 
to  mention  it  to  any  one  that 
he  had  difcovered  the  confpi- 
racy  to  him — He  then  difmiff- 
ed  him. 

23  The  tribune  imme- 
diately called  two  of  his  cen- 
turions, and  ordered  them  to 
accoutre  their  two  hundred 
men — to  draw  out  alfo  feven- 
ty  cavalry  and  two  hundred 
fpearmen,  and  at  nine  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  march  to  Cae- 
farea. 

24  He  ordered  them  alfo 
to  have  horfes  in  readinefs  for 

Paul whom  he  charged 

them  to  conduct  fafe  to  Fe- 
lix the  procurator. 

25  Flaving  given  thefe  or- 
ders he  wrote  the  following 
letter. 

26  "  Claudius  Lysias  to 
the  moft  illuftrious  procura- 
tor Felix. 

27  The  prifoner  I  now 
fend  you,  was  violently  feized 
by  the  Jews,  and  would 
quickly  have  been  difpatch- 
cd  by  them  had  not  I  =  fud- 
denly  interpofed  with  my 
troops,  and  refcued  him  from 


The  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


451 

their  determined  fury- I 

have  fince  learned  that  he  is 
a  Roman  citizen. 

28  Being  defirous  to  know 
what  particular  crimes  they 
alledged  againft  him,  I 
brought  him  into  their  San- 
hedrim. 

29  But  I  found  they  had 
nothing  to  charge  him  with 
but  fome  particular  fenti- 
ments  about  fome  controvert- 
ed points  and  fubtilties  of 
their  law and  was  convin- 
ced that  he  had  perpetrated 
no  crime  that  either  deferved 
death  or  imprifonmcnt. 

30  But  upon  the  difcovery 
of  a  confpiracy  which  the 
Jews  had  formed  againfl  this 
perfon's  life,  I  determined  to 
fend  him  immediately  to  you 
— and  have  given  notice  to 
his  accufers  to  produce  what 
they  have  to  alledge  againil 
him  at  your  tribunal.  Fare- 
well." 

31  The  foldiers  having  re- 
ceived thefe  orders,  took  Paul, 
and  marched  that  night  as 
far  as  Antipatris. 

32  The  next  day  they  left 


?  Er/rrtf.  This  word  fignifies  to  appear  fuddenly.  Confult  Luke  H. 
9.  Chap.  XX.  I.  Chap.  xxi.  34.  Chap.  xxiv.  4.  and  Not.  in  loc.  Acts 
iv.  i.^  Chap.  X.  17.  Chap.  xi.  11.  Chap.  xii.  7.  "  While  Antigonu$ 
was  giving!,  audience  to  certain  ambafladors,  Demetrius  fuddenly  appeared., 
s-T  :  .  Plutarch  Demet.  p.  1630.  Edit.  Steph.  The  enemies  ya^i/f^/y 
/>re,/6'.'?/er/ themfelves  to  them  in  their  houfes,  eTsrrir^;.     Polybhu,  p.  323. 

.■  ^i^ffo.  tTg  Ip/f  e-res-M 

B:?A©  5T/  Klho     Iliad,  '^.  ver.  201, 


G  g  2 


the 


452,    .,vr,.jr/Jt' Acts -2/"  ^Z-t' Apostles.     Chap,  ixiv* 


the  ci^'iXty  to  proceed  with 
him,  and  returned  to  the 
caftle.  ■^'  n-'-'if 

33  Arriving  in  Cjeflrea 
they  delivered  the  letter,  and 
prclented  the  prilbner. 

24  The  procurator  having 
read  the  letter  afl<ed,  Of 
which   of  the  provinces    he 


great  tranquillity,  and  the 
many  fignal  emoluments  that 
this  province  hath  enjoyed, 
upon  all  occafions,  and  in  its 
whole  extent,  by  your  pru- 
dential and  godlike  admini- 
flration. 

4  But  not  to  expatiate  at 
prefent  on  fo  pleafing  a  fub- 
je(^l,  will  you  deign  to  hear  a 
brief  reprefentation  from  us  of 
the  cau'e  now  depending,  with 
tiiat  candour  and  benignity 
for  which  you  are  fo  emi- 
nently diftinguifned. 

5  The  pnlbner  at  the  bar 
hath  long  been  the  peft  and 
bane  of  Ibciety  —  hath  been 
exciting  in  every  part  of  the 
world  riots  and  diilurbanccs 
among  all  the  Jews  —  and  is 
ih^  grand  ringleader  of  the 
herefy  of  the  Nazarenes. 

6  He  even  made  an  im- 
pious attempt  to  profane  our 
facred  temple — but  we  time- 
ly prevented  it  by  feizing 
him,  and  would  have  judged 
him  according  to  our  law, 

7  but  the  tribune  Lyfias 
fuddenly  ruilied  upon  us  with 
his  troops,  and  violently  tore 
iiim  out  of  our  hands : 

8  ordering  his  accufers  to 
appear  before  you  -—  Any  of 
the  plaintiffs  now  before  you, 
if  you  condefcend  to  examine. 

The  Ramans  bailing  reai-ved 
'  la  minirti  actourit  from    thofe  who   had  eicaped  the  wreck,  j^iAKnauyTH' 
"c^ ''JPeijiius.   i!.dit._  lianov.  p.  39.   See  alfo  p.  170.  187.328. 

them. 


was  a  native  —  and  being 
told.  Of  Cilicia  —  he  turned 
to  the  apoftle  and  laid — 

35  When  your  accufers 
come  hither  before  me,  I 
will  give  your  caufe  an  ''  im- 
partial hearing  ~ He  then 

gave  orders  for  his  confine- 
ment in  Herod's  praetorium. 

CHAP.   XXIV. 

I  T?  I  V  E  days  after  his  ar- 
■*-     rival,  the    high   priell 

_  Ananias  and  tht  Sanhedrim 

went  down  in  a  body  to  Cie- 

.  fared,  with  one  Tertullus  an 

orator whofe  eloquence 

T.hey  had  hired  to  diiplay  and 
aggravate  the  apollle's  crimes 
before  the  procurator, 

2  The  prifoner  being  or- 

^  dered  into  court,   Tertullus 

'began   his    impeachment  in 

^ythe  following  formal  manner. 

'..     .3    "    ^^^^    acknowledge, 

'"^rhoft   illuftrious  Felix,   with 

the  warmeft  gratitude,    the 

^,..f,,  *  '  A^(«X«5'o//at',   literacy,  hem- it  throvgh 


Chap,  xxlv.-   The  Acts  ^y^ /^^'  Apostles.  4-3 

them,  will  f^ive  you  clear  in-    the  name  of  hercfy,    I  wor- 


formation  on  the  ieveral  ai 
tides  of  this  charge." 
•'''"9  He  ended,  and  all  the 
Jews  unanimoully  decJared 
that  the  crimes  healledged  a- 
gainft  the  priibner  were  ilricl- 
ly  true. 

10  The  procurator  then 
giving  a  fign  to  the  apoftlc 
to  ofi-'er  his  vindicatiori,  he 
thus  replied — ^"Conscious 
that  you  have  been  for  a  con- 
fiderable  number  of  years  the 
fupreme  judge  and  governor 
of  this  province,  I  am  encou- 
raged to  deliver  my  apology 
before  you  with  greater  free- 
dom and  fortitude. 

I  r  Efpecially  fmce  you 
may  eafily  obtain  information 
of  the  truth  of  what  I  fo- 
lemnly  afifert — That  it  is  now 
no  more  than  twelve  days 
ago  fince  I  went  up  to  Jeru- 
lalem  to  pay  my  devotions 
there, 

12  and  that  they  neither 
detefted  me  in  the  temple  in 
a  debate  with  any  perfon — or 
raifing  a  mob,  either  in  the 
fynagogue,  or  in  any  part  of 
the  capital, 

1 3  Nor  can  they  prove  a- 
ny  one  article  of  the  charge, 
which  they  have  now  exhi- 
bited againft  me. 

14  This,  however,  I  will 
ingenuoufly  confefs,  that  ac- 
cording to  that  particular 
ki5t,  which  they  brand  with 


fliip  the  God  of  my  anceftors 
—  hrmly  believing  the  truth 
of  all  things,  that  are  written, 
in  the  law  and  the  prophets ; 
15  indulging  that  divine 
tranfporting  hope,  vvhich  they 
theipfelves  profefs  to  cherifh. 
That  after  death  there  v/ill 
be  a  general  refurret^ion  both 
of  the  virtuous  and  of  the 
wicked. 

16  In  confequence  of  which 
folemn  event,  I  conftantly 
make  it  my  moft  fedulous 
lludy  and  cxercife  to  main- 
tain an  irreproachable  conduct 
both  towards  God  and  man. 

1 7  After  an  abfence  of  a 
confiderable  number  of  years 
I  lately  took  a  journey  to  Je- 
rufalem  to  diftribute  a  chari- 
table collection  among  my  in- 
digent countrymen. 

18  But  during  my  conti- 
nuance in  the  city,  fome 
Jews  of  Afia  minor  found  me 
in  the  temple  purified  accor- 
ding to    the   prefcription  of 

the  law but  they  cannot 

make  it  appear  that  they  fur- 
prized  me  caballing  with  a 
mob,  for  fomenting  any  riot. 

1 9  T'hofe^  as  they  were  the 
firfl  that  violently  feized  me, 
ought  to  have  been  at  your 
tribunal,  and  have  here  pro- 
duced what  they  had  to  al- 
ledge  againlt  me : 

/  20  Or  let  even  thefe^  who 

are  now  prefent,    f|-eely  de- 

G  g  3  clare, 


454  ^^^  Acts  of  the  Apostles.    Chap.  xxlv. 


clare,  what  crime  they  found 
me  guilty  of,  when  I  was 
lately  called  before  the  San- 
hedrim. 

2 1  Except  indeed  they  im- 
pute this  to  me  as  a  crime — 
that  when  I  flood  before  them 
I  uttered  with  great  emotion 
the  following  expreflion — "  I 
am.  impeached  at  this  vene- 
rable court  for  my  firm  belief 
of  a  future  refurreftion." 

2  2  The  procurator  hearing 
thefe  things,  and  being  defir- 
ous  to  gain  a  more  explicit 
information  of  the  Chriftian 
relio;ion  deferred  the  caufe — 
telling  the  Jews,  when  Lyfias 
the  tribune  came  to  Csefarea, 
he  fhould  be  able  to  examine 
and  decide  with  greater  im- 
partiality. 

23  He  then  gave  orders 
to  the  centurion  to  take  Paul 
into  his  cuftody — but  to  treat 
him  as  a  prifoner  at  large,  and 
to  permit  all  his  friends  to 
have  free  accefs  to  him. 


§ — 24  Some  days  after 
this,  Felix  and  his  lady  Dru- 
fiUa,  who  Vv/'as  a  Jewefs,  fent 
for  Paul,  and  heard  him  dif- 
courfe  concerning  the  Chrif- 
tian religion. 

25  But  when  the  apoftle, 
in  the  progrefs  of  his  dif- 
courfe,  ftrongly  enforced  the 
important  duties  of  juftice 
and  continency,  and  repre- 
fented  the  folemnities  of  a  fu- 
ture judgment,  *  Felix  Ihook 
with  extreme  terror  and  con- 
iiernation,  and  interrupted 
him,  faying — Enough  !  leave 

us  at  prefent Some  other 

time  I  may  fend  for  you  a- 
gain. 

26  He  was  in  hopes  alfo 
that  Paul  would  offer  him  a 
bribe,  to  purchafe  his  dif- 
charge — and  this  mercenary 
principle  induced  him  fre- 
quently to  fend  for  and  con- 
verfe  v/ith  the  apoftle. 

27  After  a  confinement 
1  here  of  two  v/hole  years  Fe- 


'  He  had  reafon  to  fhudder  at  the  profpe^l,  for  he  was  a  man  of  a  moft 
abandoned  charader.  Claudius  detunftis  regibus,  Judseam  provinciam 
equitibus  Romanis  aut  libertis  permifit ;  e  quibus  Antonius  Felix,  per 
omncm  fsevitiam  ac  libidinem,  jus  regium  fervili  ingenio  exercuit.  Ta- 
(iti  Hijlor.  Lib.  5.  c.  9.  p.  397,  Edit.  Dubl.  At  non  frater  ejus,  cogno- 
mento  Felix,  pari  moderatione  agebat,  jam  pridem  Juda;x  impofitus, 
&  cunfta  nialefada  fibi  impune  ratus,  tanta  potentia  fubnixo.  Anr.al.  12. 
54.  He  lived  in  an  adulterous  commerce  with  Drufilla  a  JciK'eJs,  the 
youngell  daughter  of  Herod  Agrippa,  who  had  been  married  to  Azizm 
king  of  the  Ewe/cncs,  but  induced  by  the  pcrfuafions  of  Felix,  Ihe  di- 
vorced herfelf  from  her  hufband,  and  threw  herfeif  into  the  arms  of  this 
profligate  heaiheny  in  direcl  repugnance,  faith  Jojephuf,  to  the  laws  of  her 
country,  ra.  rrrfrpiet  toi/.iuc/.  yofrph.  Antlt^.  Lib.  zo.  c.  6.  §  I.  2.  IMfcn. 
Tacitus  by  a  mlllakc  faith  that  Drufilla  was  the  grand-daughter  of  the  fa- 
Ihous  CUopatra  and  Antony.     Hijior.  Lib.   c.  Q. 


iX 


Chap.  XXV.    The  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

lix  was  fucceeded  in  the  pro- 
vince by  Porcius  Feftus 


But  Felix,  when  he  deliver- 
ed up  his  government  to  his 
fucceflbr,  to  gratify  the  Jews, 
left  Paul  at  his  departure  Hill 
a  prifoner. 

CHAP.    XXV. 

I  'T^  H  R  E  E  days  after 
•^  Feftus  entered  upon 
the  government  of  his  pro- 
vince, he  went  up  from  Cs- 
farea  to  Jerufalem. 

2  Here  the  ''  high  priefts 
and  the  leading  men  among 
the  Jews,  when  they  waited 
upon  him  to  congratulate  him 
upon  his  acceffion  to  the  pro- 
vince, bitterly  inveighed  a- 
gainft  the  apoftle, 

3  foliciting  it  as  a  favour 
that  ;,e  Vv'ould  be  pleafed  to 
give  orders  to  have  him  fcnt 
to  Jerulalem — defigning,  had 
he  complied  with  this  re- 
quell,  to  have  hired  ruffians 
to  murder  him  upon  the 
yoad. 

4  But  Feftus  told  them, 
that  it  was  his  will,  that  Paul 
fliouid  remain  in  cuftody  at 
Csfarea — and  that  his  ftay  in 
Jerulalem  would  be  very 
fliort. 

5  Adding —  that  any  per- 
fons  whom  they  fixed  upon, 
inight  go  down   along  with 


455 

him,  and  produce  at  his  tri- 
bunal what  they  had  to  al- 
ledge  againft  the  prifoner. 

6  After  a  ftay  of  about  ten 
days  in  the  metropolis,  he 
went  dov/n  to  Csfarea — and 
the  next  day  after  his  arrival, 
he  fummoned  a  court  — • — 
afcendcd  the  bench — and  or- 
dered Paul  to  be  brought  be- 
fore him. 

7  Here  as  he  ftood  at  the 
bar,  his  profecucors  from  Je-f 
rufalem  with  great  virulence 
charged  him  with  many  hei- 
nous   and    atrocious   crimes 

none  of  which,    upon 

ftrid  examination,  they  were 
able  to  prove  againft  him. 

8  For  in  his  apology  he 
publickly  declared  in  the 
moft  folemn  terms,  that  they 
could  not  convid  him  of  any- 
one inftance  of  a  criminal  be- 
haviour, either  to  the  law, 
to  the  temple,  or  to  the  Ro- 
man emperor. 

9  Feftus  then,  being  de- 
firous  to  ingratiate  hiTifelf 
with  the  Jews,  afked  him,  if 
he  was  willing  his  caufe  ftiouid 
be  tried  at  Jerufalem. 

10  To  this  propofal  Paul 

replied I  am  nov/  before 

C^far's  tribunal,  where  my 
caufe  ought  to  be  impartially 
canvalicd  and  decided — You 
yourfeif  are  conlcious  that  I 
have  been  guilty  of  nothing 


^  See  Dr.  Mill  in  loc.  and  ver.  15, 
G  g  4 


criminal 


456 


7'he  Acts  of  the  A  f  o s  t  l  e  s .    Chap,  xx v. 


criminal   againfl:  my  country 
men. 

II  If  I  have  injured  them, 
if  I  have  perpetraced  any  capi- 
tal crime,  I  fubmit  without 
reluctance  to  capital  puniih- 
ment — But  if  all  the  charges 
they  have  now  brought  a- 
gainft  me  are  proved  to  be 
abfolutely  falfe  and  ground- 
k'fs,  no  pcrfon  can  condemn 
me  to  death  merely  to  grati- 
fy them — I  appeal  to  the  em- 
peror. 

12  Feftus,  after  deliberat- 
ing with  the  Roman  council, 

turned  and  faid   to  him 

Have  you  appealed  to  the 
emperor?  —  You  flinll  then 
go,  and  be  judged  by  the 
emperor. 

I — 13  A  FEW  days  after 
this,  king  Agrippa,  and  his 
iifter  '  Bernice  took  a  Journey 
to  Csefarca  to  congratulate 
Feftus  upon  his  acceiiicn  to 
the  province. 


14  Thefc  making  a  ftay  of 
feveral  days  at  Casfarea,  a- 
mong  other  fubjefts,  Feftus 
recounted  to  them  the  apoftle's 
{lory — I  have  here  aprifoner, 
faid  he,  whom  my  predecef- 
for  left  in  cuftody,  when  he 
quitted  the  province. 

15  This  perfon,  during 
a  rhort  vifit  I  paid  to  Jerufa- 
lem  upon  my  arrival,  the 
high  priefts  and  principal 
maoillrates  loaded  with  ma- 

o 
ny  atrocious  and  aggravated 

crimes  —  and  importunately 

begged   me  to  pafs  fentence 

of  death  upon  him. 

1 6  To  thefe  urgent  entrea- 
ties I  replied  —  that  it  was 
not  cuftomary  for  the  Ro- 
mans to  gratify  any  man 
with  the  death  of  another 
—  and  that  the  "*  laws  of 
Rome  enadled.  That  the  per- 
fon  impeached  (hould   have 

j  free  liberty  to  offer  a  public 
'  defence  g^  himfelf  before  his 


1  This  Indy  \V2S  the  dcleil  daughter  q{  Hrrr.d  Agrippa.  She  was  fuf- 
peftcd  cf  an  incefluous  cumnicrce -with  her  hxoxuzx  Jgrippa.  To  thii 
yavf/zfl/ refers.  Sat.  6.  icq. 

■  Adamns  notifTimns,  cr  Berenices 

In  diqito  faiSlus  pretiollor.     Hunc  dedit  olim 
Barbarus  Incijia:  ;   dcdic  l;unc  Agripj\i  forori. 
She  iniinunted  hcrfelf  into  the  atieftionb  oi  Titu!;  Vejpafian.     Bcrenicem 
flatiin  ab  urbe  dimifit  inviius  in-vitam.     SuilGii.  'Jit.  c.  7. 

w  Cauba  cognita  multi  poflunt  abfolvi,  incognita  quidem  condcmnari 
nemo  potclt.  Cicero  in  Verrem.  Cicero  inveighs  againll  \  errcs  per- 
petually, that,  a'cfcniii  nomiii  reccpifie.  Again,  ubjcntan  in  rcos  retulerit, 
causa  inciitta,  capiie  danmavit.  Crimen  fine  accukitione,  fententia 
fine  conClio,  damnatio  fine  dcfcnficne.  Cicero  in  Ver.  paffiin.  \y^i'\.i 
yup  ro^oj-j  &C.  Pcpliccla  ena<flcd  a  law,  That  he  who  futlcred  any  xnan 
to  be  put  to  death  without  a  legal  trial,  fhoiild  be  held  guilty  ,of  af- 
fccling  the  tyranny  of  Rome.  Plutarch  inl'oplic.  p.  187.  EJit.Gr.  Steph.  8vo. 

-••-  accufcrsj 


Chap.  XXV.    'T^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 


accufers,  and  exculpate  him- 
felf,  if  he  could,  from  the 
crimes  alledged  againft  him. 

17  Accordingly,  upon  their 
coming  hither  in  a  body,  I  af- 
cended  the  tribunal  the  very 
next  day — willing  to  difpatch 
this  bufinefs  —  and  ordered 
the  priibner  to  be  brought  to 
the  bar. 

■  18  But  his  profecutors  now 
alledo;ed  ao-ainft  him  no  fuch 
imputations  as  I  imagined 
they  would  do. 

19  They  only  had  to  charge 
him  with  differing  from  them 
in  Ibme  controverted  points 
and  fubtilties  in  their  "  reli- 
gion —  and  about  one  Jefus, 
whom  they  declared  was  dead, 
but  whom  the  prifoner  aver- 
red to  be  ftill  living. 

20  I,  being  greatly  per- 
plexed and  embarrafied  in 
what  manner  to  terminate 
this  affair,  afked  the  prifo- 
ner. If  he  would  confent  to 
have  his  cauie  tried  in  Jeru- 
falem. 

2 1  Upon  this  propofal,  he 
made  his  appeal  to  Casfar, 
and  publickly  infifted  upon 
the  emperor's  decifion —  and 

i^  he  is  now  under  confinement. 


'till  I  have  an  opportunity  of 
fending  him  to  Rome. 

22  Agrippa   then   faid  to 
Fefcus —  I  Ihould  be  glad  to 
hear  what  this  pcrfon  hath  to , 
fay  in  vindication  of  his  prin- 
ciples   To-morrow    then, 

faid  the  procurator,  you  Ihall 
have  this  pleafure. 

23  Accordingly,  the  next 
day,  king  i\grippa  and  his 
fifter  Bernice,  with  a  mod 
fplendid  and  magnificent  re- 
tinue, entered  the  prstorium, 
attended  alfo  by  the  Roman 
tribunes  and  perfons  of  the 
firft  diftinftion  in  Cjefarea  — 
When  this  large  brilliant  af- 
fembly  were  feated,  Feftus 
ordered  Paul  to  be  brought 
before  them. 

24  When  the  apoftle  was 
conduced  in,  the  procura- 
tor thus  add  re  fled  himfelf  to 
the  company — "  This  is  the 
perfon,  king  Agrippa,  and 
ye  illuftrious  auditors,  againfl: 
whom  the  whole  community 
of  the  Jews  are  fo  implacably 
enraged — whom  they  have  lo 
often,  both  in  Jerufalem,  and 
in  this  city,  by  the  moil  fup- 
plicant  entreaties  begged  me 
to  difpatch — vehemently  cla- 


,  \. 


;-jq    :'^''Aii(ri^ciifJLoviet  is  frequently  ufed  in  a  good  fenfe,  as  It  is  undoubtedly 
'i-in  this  place.     FeJ}us  would  not,   htiore  kmg  jlgrippa,  who  was  a  Tew, 
:ji  brand  his  religion  with  the  odious   name  oi  fuperjlition.    Kai  not  j'oy.ot 
>>JC.  T.  A.     What  in._my  judgment  is  the  bond   of  union    in  the  Roman 


ir.n:ct>inraunion    is  their  religion,  J^iKTiJ^cttuoiteiv. 
T    fiansftK  1^1^'   See  the  note  on  Chap.  xvii.  22. 


Poljiiuj,    p.   497.    EJi(, 


mounng. 


45^  1"/je  Acts  of  t/je  Avo ST LI.S.    Chap,  xxvi, 

with  an  opportunity  of  pub- 
lickly  vindicating  mylelt  be- 
fore fo  illuftrious  a  perfonage 
from  the  various  afperfions 
that  the  Jews  have  caft  upon 
me. 

3  Efpecially  as  I  am  pleaf- 
ingly  confcious  that  you  arc 
pcrfedly  acquainted  with  the 
whole  religious  fyftem,  and 
popular  controverfies,  of  the 
Jews This  periuafion  en- 
courages me  to  folicit,  that 
you  would  hear,  what  I  have 
to  offer  in  defence  of  the 
principles  I  have  adopted, 
with  lenity  and  candour. 

4  To  my  conduct  and  cha- 
racter in  early  life,  which 
was  fpent  among  my  own 
countrymen  on  the  public 
theatre  of  Jerufalem,  all  the 
Jews  are  no  ilrangers. 

5  They  all  know  my  life, 
and  the  liberal  education  I  re- 
ceived, if  they  were  difpofed 

ingenuouQy  to  atteft  it 

They  all  know  that  I  was  e- 
ducated  in  the  ftriclcft  fed  of: 
our  religion,  and  that  I  em- 
braced the  principles  of  the; 
Pharifees. 

6  And  now  do  I  (land  at 
this  tribunal  for  my  lirm  end 
avowed  belief  in  that  tranf-^ 
porting  promife,  wliich  God: 
folemniy  made  to  our  illuftri- 
ous forefathers. 

7  A  promife  !  after  whofe 
expe<5ted  bleffednefs  the  whole 
community  of  Ifraei  fervently 

afpircs 


mOuring,  That  the  earth 
ought  to  be  inftantly  deliver- 
ed irom  fuch  a  vile  monfter. 

25  But,  after  ftrid  exami- 
nation, I  am  convinced  he 
hath  been  guilty  of  no  crime 
that  deferves  capital  punifli- 
ment  —  and  I  am  now  deter- 
mined, upon  his  appealing 
to  the  emperor,  to  fend  him 
to  Rome. 

26  But  as  I  have  yet  no- 
thing explicit  to  write  to  my 
fovereign  about  him,  I  have 
judged  it  proper  to  bring 
him  before  this  honourable 
and  auguft  afiembly,  and, 
particularly,  before  you,  king 
Agrippa That  his  prin- 
ciples and  conduct  being  here 
accurately  explored  and  exa- 
mined, I  might  be  able  to 
tranfmit  a  clear  and  faithful  ac- 
count of  him  to  the  emperor. 

27  For  it  would  be  highly 
abfurd  and  infolent  for  me  to 
fend  a  prifoner  to  Ccefar, 
without  fpecifying  his  crimes. 

CHAP.    XXVI. 

GRIP  PA  then  faid 
to  Paul  —  You  have 
flow  free  permiliion  to  vindi- 
cate yourfeif Upon    this 

Paul  ixrr^tched  out  his  hand, 
and  delivered  the  following 
apology  : 

2      "    DiflTINGUISHED      IS 

my  happinefs,  O  king  Agrip- 
pa, tha:  I  am  now  favoured 


Chap.  XXVI.    T^Joe  Acts  of 

afpires — and  to  attain  which 
all  the  twelve  tribes  day  and 
nig-ht  ferve  God  with  unre- 
mitted ardour  of  devotion  — 
and  yet  becaufe  I  cherifh  this 
common  hope,  O  king  A- 
grippa,  am  I  purfued  by  the 
whole  body  of  the  Jews, 
with  unrelenting  enmity  and 
rage. 

8  What !  is  it  a  thing  ab- 
folutely  incredible  with  you, 
That  the  great  God  is  able 
to  reanimate  the  dead  ! 

9  I  once  thought  it  my 
duty  to  do  every  thing  in  my 
power  to  crulli  the  caufe  of 
Jefus  in  its  birth. 

ID  Accordingly  in  Jerufa- 
lem,  I  diftinguifhed  myfelf 
by  my  zealous  endeavours  to 
fupprefs  it —  Great  numbers 
of  the  Chriftians   I   confined 

in  jails to  me  the  high 

priefts  granted  their  commif- 
fion  to  harrafs  tliem — I  ever 
gave  a  chearful  fufferage  to 
thofe  who  were  refolved  to  af- 
failnate  them. 

1 1  In  every  fynagogue  by 
my  orders  they  were  mang- 
led with  fcourges  and  punifli- 
ed  with  extreme  cruelty — By 
the  tortures  I  inflifted  I  ob- 
liged them  to  calumniate  and 
revile  their  leader — At  laft, 


t/:)e  Apostles,  459 

the  excefles  of  my  unbound- 
ed fury  againit  them  would 
not  be  circumfcribed  within 
the  narrow  limits  of  Judaea — 
My  madnefs  inftigated  me  to 
overleap  its  boundaries,  and 
perfecute  in  foreign  towns  and 
cities. 

1 2  But  as  I  was  travelling 
to  Damafcus  with  an  unlimit- 
ed commilTion  from  the  high 
priefts, 

13  on  the  public  road,  a- 
bout  the  middle  of  the  day, 
I  faw,  O  king  Agrippa,  from 
the  parted  clouds,  all  on  a 
fudden,  an  ineffable  light,  in- 
finitely more  dazzling  than 
all  the  effulgence  of  the  fun, 
dart  and  blaze  about  me  and 
my  companions. 

14  We  were  all  inftantly 
ftruck  to  the  earth — where  as 
I  lay  proftrate  I  heard  the  fol- 
lowing  words,    in  Hebrew, 

folemnly  uttered Saul  ! 

Saul !  why  doff  thou  perfe- 
cute me — °  It  is  madnefs  for 
thee  to  contend  with  a  fuperi- 
our  power ! 

15    Trembling,     I    faid. 
Lord  !  who  art  thou  ? — The 

voice  replied 1  am  Jefus, 

whom  thou  art  perfecuting. 

1 6  But  rife for  I  have 

now  appeared  to  thee  to  con- 


•  "EK^vpov  coi  TpQ-  x«!'Tp«  ^a.KTi^in.     This  expreffion  occurs  in  the 

folhejl  writers Namque  infcitia  ell  Advcrfum  ftimulum  calces.     Teren. 

Phormio,  Ad.  i.  Seen.  2.  V.  28.     See  Mer.  Cafaubon  in  loc.   Edit.  Far. 
1686. 

ftitute 


ne  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  Chap.  xxvi. 

tions,  have  I  publickly  pro- 
claimed the  indifpenfable  ne- 
celTity  of  repentance,  and  of 
a  devout  and  holy  life,     \r,^i.\ 

2  1  It  is  for  thcfe  princi- 
ples, and  for.  this  conduct, 
that  the  Jews  feized  me  in  the 
ten]  pie,  and  violently  at- 
tempted to  murder  me. 

2  2  But  by  the  powerful 
interpofiti,on  of  my  God  I 
have  been  refcued  from  every 
danger — and  now  ;fl:and  be- 
fore you  this  day  a  monu- 
ment of  the  divine  mercy  — 
freely  declaring  to  the 
noble  and  ignoble  no  other 
truths  but  what  Mofes  and 
the  prophets  have  exprefsly 
afTcrted  : 

11,  for  example,  that  the 
Mefilah  would  be  ^  liable  to 
fufferings — that  he  would  be 
the  fiill  perfon  who  fliould  be 
railed  from  the  grave  to  ahfo- 
liite  immortality — and  that  he 
would  diffufe  a  moft  glorious 
and  facred  light  in  the  world 
to  illuminate  both  the  Jews 
and  the  Gentiles  without  dif- 
tinclion.'* 

24  Here  Feflus  interrupt- 


460 

ftitute  thee  a  minifter  and  a 
witnefs  of  what  thou  haft 
feen,  and  that  thou  mayeft 
publifh  to  the  world  the  truths 
1  Ihall  in  future  time  reveal 
to  thee. 

17  I  will  be  thy  guardian 
amidft  the  rage  of  the  Jews 
and  the  fury  of  the  Heathens 
— to  whom  1  will  depute  thee, 

18  to  pour  the  light  of 
truth  upon  the  mental  eye 
■ — to  dilpel  the  gloomy  dark- 
nel's  from  their  benighted 
ibiils  —  to  reclaim  them  from 
the  adoration  of  falfe,  to  the 

Vr'orlhip  of  the  true  God 

that  p  by  embracing  my  reli- 
gion they  niay  obtain  a  total 
remiffion  of  their  paft  fms, 
and  finally  fecure  a  blelfed 
immortality  among  the  vir- 
tuous. 

19  To  the  folemn  com- 
mands enjoined  me  by  this 
heavenly  vifion,  O  king  A- 
grippa,  I  have  not  been  dif- 
cbedient. 

20  But  to  the  Jews  in  Da- 
mafcus  firft — then  to  Jerufa- 
1cm — afterwards  to  all  Judrea 
r— at  laft,  to  the  Heathen  na- 


P  ri/r*/  is  not  governed  on  vytiau^von,  but  put  in  conflruftion  with 
?^etC&iv,  that  they  may  obtain,  by  embracing  iny  religion,  a  total  remifilon 
of  their  paft  fms.     Sec  nntc  on  Chap.  xiii.  39. 

'■J  IItf6itT(J^  liable  to  fi'^h-'ntgs.  Oi/tS  yap  i)(.tHY&-.  X.  T.  A.  P\thagora's 
<oivceivcJ  tlie  Deity,  not  to  be  impreflible  or  prj/tve  (■t<^Oiitoi)  but  to 
fee  a  pure,  confcious,  invifible,  incorruptible  intelligence.  P/u/arc/}  Numa, 
p.  iiH.  Who  in  reward  of  their  virtue  were  divelled  of  mortality  and  a 
//W//i'/:j/.f  to  human  fufferings,  TaSMToc.  riutarch  Pehfidas,  '^.  522.  £<//'/. 
^rej-h.  8vo.  Gr. 


ChaJ>;  X X vii *    The  Acts  of 

ed  his  difcourfe  by  fuddenly 
exclaiming  with  a  loud  and 
vehement  voice  —  Certainly 
Paul  you  are  mad  !  Your  pro- 
found erudition  hath  difor- 
dered  your  intelle(5ls ! 

25  The  apoftle  replied  — 
My  underftanding,  moll  il- 
luftrious  Fcitus,  is  not  diibr- 
dered  —  What  I  utter  is  the 
dictate  of  fober  truth  and  fe- 
date  refleclion. 

26  I  appeal  to  the  king, 
before  whom  I  fpeak  with 
this  freedom,  for  the  truth  of 
my  declarations  —  His  maje- 
fty,  I  am  perfuaded,  is  not 
ignorant  of  any  part  of  thcfe 
public  tranfadtions  —  Thefe 
things  were  not  done  in  feme 
obfcure  retreat. 

27  Do  you  believe,  O  king 
Agrippa,  the  predictions  of 
the  antient  prophets  ?  — I  am 
confcious  you  believe  them. 

^*^  ^^S  Agrippa   then    laid  to 
'"liim — You  almoil  induce  me 
to  turn  Chriitian. 

29  Would  to  God,  the 
apollle  replied,  that  all  my 
prefent  auditors  were  not  <?/- 
moji^  but  al together,  fuch  as  I 
am — except  in  the  fingiccir- 
cumfcance  of  thefe  chain;s. 

30  After  he  had  faid  this, 
the  king,  the  procurator, 
Bernice,  and  the  reft  of  tiie 
company  rofe  up,  and  with- 
drew. 

31  Saying,  as  they  went 
out,  one  to  another  — This 

2 


l/je  Apost*le;s!.  461 

unhappy  perfon  hath  done 
nothing  that  deferves  either 
death,  or  imprifonment!  ml: 
32  and  king  Agrippa  free- 
ly told  Feftus,  I'hat  he  ought 
in  juftice  to  have  been  dif- 
charged,  if  he  had  not  ap- 
pealed to  the  Emperor. 

CHAP,  xxvir. 

I  TN  coniequence  of  the 
-■-  procurator's  relblution  to 
fend  the  apoftle  to  Rome,  he 
and  fome  other  prifoners  were 
committed  to  the  care  of  a 
Roman  captain  called  Julius, 
who  was  a  centurion  of  the 
Auguftan  cohort. 

2  We  therefore,  in  com-^ 
pany  with  Ariftarchus  a  Ma- 
cedonian, a  native  of  Thef- 
falonica,  embarked  on  board 
a  vefiel  belonging  to  A- 
dramyttium,  that'  v/as  to 
fail  along  the  coafts  of  Afia 
minor.  I     ■  ;w..v 

3  The  next  day' we 'arriv- 
ed at  Sidon — where  the  Ro- 
man officer  treated  Paul  with 
fingular  humanity  and  kind- 
nefs  —  permitting  him  to  vi- 
fit  his  friends  here,  and  to 
receive  any  tavours  they  were 
pleafcd  to  confer. 

4  Sailing  from  Sidon  we 
met  with  contrary  winds, 
which  obliged  us  to  coad 
along  the  ifland  of  Cyprus. 

5  After  pafTing  the  fea  that 
walhes   the   fnores  of  Cilicia 

and 


462  'The  Acts  of  the  Apostles.    Chap,  xxvlu 

and   Pamphylia,   we   difem- 
barked  at  Myra  in  Lycia. 

6  Here  the  centurion  meet- 
ing with  an  Alexandrian  vei- 
fel  that  was  bound  for  Italy, 
he  put  us  on  board  of  her. 

7  We  afterwards  failed  ex- 
tremely flow  for  a  confider- 
able  number  of  days  toge- 
ther— and  with  a  great  diOi- 
culty  at  laft  got  oppofite 
Cnidus  —  but  were  obliged 
by  contrary  winds  to  take 
Ihclter  under  the  fliore  of 
Crete,  oppofite  Salamis, 

8  After  palTing  this  town 
with  great  difficulty,  we  put 
into  an  harbour  called  the 
Fair  havens,  very  near  the 
city  Alafia. 

9  Having  fpent  fo  long  a 
time  in  this  fliort  voyage 
hither,  and  it  beino-  no  lono-er 
fafe  to  venture  upon  the  deep, 
■as  the  Jewifli  '  feaft  of  ta- 
bernacles was  now  paft,  Paul 
advifed  them  to  refig-n  all 
thoughts  of  putting  to  fca  in 
fo  critical  a  feafon  of  the  year. 

10  I  am  perfuaded.  Sirs! 
faid  he,  that  the  future  part 
of  our  voyage,  if  you  are 
refolved  to  profecute  it  at 
this   time,  will  be   attended 


with  great  Jofs  and  very  im- 
minent danger,  not  only  of 
the  freight  and  the  veflTel, 
but  of  our  own  lives. 

1 1  But  the  Roman  officer 
paid  greater  regard  to  the 
judgment  of  the  maftcr  and 
pilot  of  the  veffel,  than  to 
this  advice  of  the  apollle. 

1 2  The  port  we  had  nov/ 
put  into  being  extremely  in- 
commodious for  wintering  a 
ftorm,  the  major  part  were 
of  opinion  to  quit  it,  and,  if 
poffible,  to  make  the  har- 
bour of  Phcsnice  —  a  much 
more  convenient  haven  in 
the  ifland,  bearing  fouth-well 
and  north-weft. 

13  In  the  mean  time  a 
fouthern  gale  fprung  up— — • 
which  infpircd  us  with  fond 
hopes  that  now  all  our  wifhes 
would  be  happily  accomplifli- 
ed We  therefore  imme- 
diately weighed  anchor,  and 
coafted  along  the  fhores  of 
Crete. 

14  But  we  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  before  we  were 
afTailed  by  a  dreadful  '  hur- 
ricane, called  by  the  failors 
'  Euraculon. 

1 5  The  veflel  being  feized 


*■  25th  of  September. 

'  AviuQr  TvnuviK©-  by  the  defcription  given  of  it  by  the  Greek  clafr 
fics,  exaftly  anfwcrs  to  the  Spanijh  term.  Tornado.  ArijiotU  defcribing 
it,  faith,  T>i  jti-'itAw  Kiv^sii  rpepn.  Meteor^  Lib.  3.  c.  1.  A2>!'<y  Tu^foK 
£T/^«i"?//.?v'©-  )c*/  TipiJ^iv\]aon;  Till'  raur.  Lucian  de  vera  Hilt.  Lib.  i. 
.  '  Tliis  is  the  reading  in  the  Jki(andrian  MS.  and  is  probably  the  true 
original  Icfftion. 

and 


Chap,  xxvii.    lihe  Acts  of 

and  invaded  by  the  invincible 
fury  of  this  temj^ell,  and  ut- 
terly incapable  of"  bearing  up 
againft  its  dreadful  alTauks, 
we  were  driven  at  its  mercy. 

1 6  Happening  however  to 
be  run  under  a  little  ifland 
called  Clauda,  we  with  great 
difficulty,  at  lafV,  hoifted  the 
boat  out  of  the  veflel. 

1 7  The  failors  having  got 
it  overboard,  for  its  greater 
fecurity  they  ''  undergirded 
the  fhip  with  ropes Be- 
ing then  dreadfully  afraid 
of  being  carried  among 
the  quickfands  on  the  coaft 
of  Africa,  they  took   down 

the  main  mall and  let 

her  drive. 

1 8  The  florm  ftill  con- 
tinuing to  rage  with  unabat- 


the  Apostles.  463 

ing  violence,  the  crew  next 
day  threw  the  freight  of  the 
fhip  overboard. 

19  The  day  after,  we  aflift- 
ed  them  in  throwing  into  the 
fea  the  tackling  of  the  veflel. 

20  And  now  the  gloomy 
tempefts  having  for  feveral 
days  together  intercepted 
from  us  the  fight  of  the  "^  fun, 
the  moon  and  the  ftars,  and 
ftill  raging  with  the  fame 
dreadful  violence,  v/e  entire- 
ly refigned  all  hopes  of  ever 
preferving  our  lives. 

21  The  fhip's  company, 
harrafled  by  the  tempeft  and 
by  defpair,  having  taken  no 
refrefhment  for  fome  time, 
Paul  ftood  up,  and  thus  ad- 
drefled  them — You  ought  to 
have  followed,  Sirs !  my  fala- 


«  hvTtizbriKpMv  is  a  very  elegant  expreffion.  Literally,  look  thejlorm  in 
the  face.  Black-LvaU.  S.  Claffics.  Vol.  i.  p.  15.  This  very  comphatical 
word  is  often  ufed  by  Polybius.  AvTotpd-aKuav  S'vvi)TovTci.t  toi<;  'yrohi- 
fj.to'.^.  p.  16.  The  Carthagiuians  were  not  able  to  yk(r^  the  Romans  ia 
arms,  a;'To^-^A>ij.v\ra.i,  p.  69.  That  it  may  appear  with  what  a  formidable 
nation  Annibal  dared  to  <:(5/i^,  {cvrcqt^aXuv.a-j.--.  p.  112.  The  Acha;ans 
with  their  own  forces  dared  to  ;/;«-/  the  Lacedsemonians  in  front,  a.vTo'^d-dt.K- 
{jAiv.  p.  153,  See  alfc.  p.  169.   216.   300.   30Z.  Edit.  Hanov.  foL  1619. 

w  This  expedient  was  pradifed  by  the  Antients,  in  imminent  dangers  te 
fecure  tliC  veflel. — Sine  funibas 

Vix  durare  carinae 

Poffint  imperiofius 

^quor.     Horat.  Lib.  I.  Ode  14.  Vf.  5. 

:    *  Ahp  ya^  Tcpt  v-vj(n  CcSei  h,  iiS'i.  cJAtj^rt 
Ov?oi  o'^iv  '^rpvtpdt'/i'  KctTiiyjro  yap  cj^ssffcr/r. 
E^S'  KT(i  'n)v  vnaov  iffi^i'pa.Kiv  o^^a.\^otfftv. 
Out'  8V  ;i.viJ.a.Tct.  f/.ctA.pct  KvAn'd^o(j.ivec  'ttoti  "x^^.taw 
Etfftj^oi/.Zi'  'Trpivvnui  iiioihyiH;  i'TrtKikcra.i.     Odyf.  1.  Vf.  144^ 

Tres  adeo  incertos  csca  caligine  foles 

Erramjis  pelago,  totidem  fine  fidere  noftes.     Vir^.  ^n.  3.  '-O'y 
TJbe  Syxiac  VerjSoa  reads  Mwn,  See  MilL 

tary 


464  T^^^  Acts  of  the 

tary  admonitions,  and  not 
have  embarked  from  Crete — 
by  which  means  you  would 
not  have  incurred  thefe  im- 
minent dangers  and  unhappy 
lofles. 

22  But  I  now  exhort  you 
to  difpel  your  tears — for  there 
fliall  not  be  the  lofs  of  a  fin- 
sle  life — the  veiTel  alone  will 
peri  111. 

23  For  laft  night  the  an- 
gel of  chat  God,  whofe  mef- 
fenger  I  am,  and  whom  ] 
vvorfliip,  appeared,  and  thus 
accofted  me : 

24  "  Paul  !  banifh  thy 
fears !  —  Thou  muft  ftand  at 
Casfar's  tribunal  —  Thy  God 
will  mercifully  fave,  for  thy 
fake,  the  liv^es  of  every  indi- 
vidual that  are  in  the  vclfcl 
with  thee. 

25  Difpel,  therefore,  I  en- 
treat you  all  your  terrors — for 
I  am  perfuaded  that  God  will 
certainly  accom{)iifh  this  his 
folemn  declaration. 

16  Let  me  alTure  you, 
That  we  Ihall  be  driven  up- 
on fome  illand. 

27  About  the  fourteenth 
night,  as  the  fliip  was  toiling 
up  and  down,  in  the  Adriatic 
fea,  in  every  direction,  at  the 
mercy  of  the  winds  and 
waves,    about  midnight   the 


Apostles.     Chap.xxvih 

failors  imagined  they  were  not 
far  from  iome  coalh 

28  Accordingly  they  found- 
ed, and  found  the  depth  fifty 
fathoms — a  little  farther  they 
again  tried  the  depth,  and 
found  it  only  fifteen. 

29  Being  now  feized  with 
dreadful  confternation,  kit 
they  ihould  be  driven  upoi> 
rocks,  they  call  four  anchors 
out  of  the  fbern — and  waited 
the  return  of  mornino-  with  ex- 

o 

treme  ardor  and  impatience. 

30  The  crews  intention 
was  now  to  abandon  the  vef- 

IH and  accordingly  they 

hauled  the  boat  over  board, 
under  pretence  of  calling  an- 
chors from  the  prow. 

31  Paul,  conlcious  of  their 
defign,  iaid  to  the  centurion 

and  to  the  foldiers If  the 

lailors  do  not  ftay  in  the  vel- 
fel,  to  navigate  it,  it  will  be 
impoflible  for  you  to  fave  your 
lives. 

32  The  Roman  foldiers 
hearing  this,  inftantly  cut  the 
ropes  thatfailened  the  boat  to 
the  fliip,  and  let  the  waves 
carry  it  away. 

33  In  the  mean  time,  while 
all  were  now  eagerly  waiting 
for  the  dawning  of  the  day, 
Paul  begged  they  would  take 
ibme  refrefliment — ^'  "  Your 


y  That  this  is  tl'.e  only  jufl  tranflation  of  the  original,  kc  Black^.'.'all 
S.  Claffics,  Vol.  ii.  p.  172.  4to.  //cmV's  Hillory  of  the  Bible,  and  Popis 
Qdjjfcy,  12.  175. 

cxpedation 


Chap,  xxviil.    I'be  Acts  of  the  Apostles.         465 


expedlation  of  the  fourteenth, 
which  is  to-day,  hath  been  fo 
intenfe,  as  hath  prevented 
you  from  taking  your  ufual 
repaft,  and  you  have  conti- 
nued all  the  whole  day  to 
this  moment  without  eating 
any  thing. 

34  I  therefore  beg  you 
would  take  fome  refrefhment 
— This  is  abfolutely  necefiary 
for  the  fupport  of  nature  — 
Be  aflured  that  an  hair  of 
your  heads  fhall  not  perifh. 

2S  When  he  had  laid  this, 
he  took  bread,  and  after  de- 
voutly offering  his  pious  ac- 
knowlegments  to  God  before 
them  all,  he  broke  it,  and  be- 
gan to  eat. 

36  His  encouragements 
and  example  revived  their  de- 
je6ted  fpirits  —  and  they  alfo 
partook  of  a  common  repaft. 

'^y  The  number  of  all  on 
board  were  two  hundred  fe- 
venty-fix. 

38  After  they  had  refrefh- 
ed  themfelves,  they  lightened 
jhe  vefTel  by  throwing  the 
wheat,  with  which  it  was  la- 
ilen,  over-board. 

39  When  the  morning 
dawned,  they  defcried  land 
—but  knew  not  to  what  regi- 
on it  belonged — They  difco- 
vered  alfo  a  bay  with  a  fhore, 
into  which  they  intended,  if 
poflible,  to  run  the  velTel. 

40  They  cut  therefore  the 
cables  to  which  the  anchors 

yoL.  I. 


were  tied — they  unloofed  alfo 
the  bands  that  fattened  the 

rudders they  hoifted  the 

main  fail — and  made  diredtly 
for  fhore. 

41  But  happening  to  fall 
into  a  place  where  two  con- 
trary currents  conflided,  they 

run  the  veffel  aground — 

The  prow  was  fixed  deep  in 
the  land,  fo  that  all  the  force 
they    could    exert    was    not 

able  to  extricate  it 'The 

fiern  was  (hattered  and  dif- 
united  by  the  violence  of  the 
billows. 

42  In  this  critical  emer- 
gency the  foldiers  adviled  it 
as  highly  expedient  to  maf- 
facre  all  the  prifoners,  that 
none  of  them  might  fwini  to 
fhore,  and  make  their  efcape. 

43  But  the  centurion,  wil- 
ling to  fave  Paul's  life,  re- 
jefted  this  cruel  propolal  — 
and  gave  orders  that  thole 
who  could  fwim  fhould  throw 
themfelves  firft  into  the  iea, 
and  gain  the  fhore. 

44  Afterwards  the  red  of 
the  Hiip's  company,  foir-e 
upon  planks,  fome  upon  the 

fragments  of  the  velfel ■ 

every  individual,  got  fate  to 
(ho  re. 

CHAP.    XXVIII. 

I     A  FTER  this  wonder- 

•*^    ful   deliverance,    we 

found  that  the  name  of  the 

H  h  illund 


466  T^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  Chap,  xxviii. 


ifland  we  were  caft  upon  Was 

Melite.  ;",'_  ^' 

2  In  natives,  who  were 
*  barbcirians,  treated  us  with 
fingular  humanity  ;''  for 
they  benevolently  received 
us  all  into  their  houfes,  and 
made  large  fires  to  dry  our 
'•wet  cloaths  and  warm  our  be- 
numbed limbs. 

3  Paul  having,  among  o- 
tners,  gathered  a  bundle  of 
fagots,  and  laid  it  on  the  fire 
— a  viper  fprung  out  of  the 
flame  and  f^ftened  on  his 
hand. 

4  When  the  barbarians 
faw  the  deadly  animal  hang- 
ing at  his  liand,  they  faid  one 

to  another Undoubtedly 

this  v^retch  muft  have  com- 
Tnitted  murder  —  tho'  faved 
from  a  wreck,  yet  divine  juf- 
ticc  purfues  him,  and  hath 
tkvoted  him  to  this  dreadful 
fate! 

5  The  apoPde  fliook  the 
venomous  creature  into  the 
lire,  without  feeling  the  leaft 
unhappy  confequenccs. 

,  6  The  natives  in  the  m.ean 
time  kept  their  eyes  intenfely 
fixed  upon  him  — expeding 
every  moment  to  fee  the  ter- 
rible efiefts  of  the  poifon, 
in  either  caufing  him  to  fwell, 
or  inftantly  to  drop  down 
dead  —  But  after  they  had 
viewed  him  for  fame  time  in 


anxious  and  painful  expefta- 
tation,  and  found  none  of  the 
ufual  fymptoms  enfue,  their 
former  fentiments  of  him 
were  changed  into  devout 
aftonifhment  and  awe  —  and 
they  declared  he  was  a  God. 

7  On  that  coaft,  where  the 
veflel  was  wrecked,  lay  the 
eftate  of  the  governor  of  the 
ifland,  whofe  name  was  Pub- 
lius  —  This  gentleman  gave 
us  a  friendly  reception,  and 
entertained  us  at  his  houfe  for 
three  days  with  great  huma- 
nity. 

8  The  father  of  this  gen- 
tleman happened  now  to  be 
confined  to  his  bed  by  a  dy- 
fentery  and  fever — Paul  went 
into  his  chamber  —  prayed 
—  laid  his  hands  upon  him 
— "and  miraculoufly  reftored 
him  to  perfedl  health. 

9  The  report  of  this  tranf- 
a6lion  being  foon  fpread  over 
the  ifland,  all  the  inhabitants, 
who  laboured  under  any  in- 
difpofitions,  went  to  the  a- 
pollle,  and  were  miraculoufly 
cured. 

10  The  people  therefore 
made  us  the  moil  grateful  re- 
turns— treating  us  with  every 

civility and  at  our  reim- 

barking  generoufly  provided 
us  with  every  thing  we  might 
want  in  our  future  voyage. 

11  After  a  fl:ay  of  three 


*  That  is,  who  did  not  fpeak  the  Greek  or  Roman  language. 

months 


chap,  xxviii.    TLe  Acts  of  t/je  Apostles.         467 


months  in  the  ifland  we  went 
on  board  an  Alexandrian  vef- 
fel,  which  had  happened  to 
put  in  there  by  ftrefs  of  wea- 

ther^ in  whofe  prow  were 

painted  the  ^  figures  of  Cal- 
tor  and  Pollux. 

12  Our  next  difembarka- 
tion  was  at  Syracufe  —  v/here 
we  fpent  three  days. 

13  From  this  city  failing 
in  an  indireft  circular  line  we 
arrived  at  Rhegium — and  af- 
ter our  firft  days  voyage  from 
thence  a  fouthern  gale  hap- 
pening to  fpring  up  we  ar- 
rived in  two  days  at  Puteoli. 

14  Meeting  here  with  fome 
Chriftians,  they  importuned 
us  to  fpend  a  week  with  them 
—After  which  we  let  out  for 
Rome. 

15  The  Chriftians  in  the 
imperial  city,  having  receiv- 
ed information  that  we  were 
upon  the  road,  came  to  meet 
us  as  far  as  **  Appii   forum 

and  the  Three  taverns 

The  fight  of  thefe  affectionate 
perfons  infpired  the  apoille 
with  tranfports  of  joy  and 
pious  gratitude  to  heaven. 


§ — 16  Upon  our  arrival  in 
the  capital  the  centurion  im- 
mediately delivered  up  the 
prifoners  to  the  pvstft6t  of 
the  prstorian  guards — but  to 
Paul  >v;j5  indulged  the  "  li- 
berty of  living  in  a  private 
apartment,  along  with  on<;* 
Ibldier  only  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  guard  him. 

17  After  Paul  had  been 
in  Rome  three  days  he  fenr 
for  the  principal  jews  who 
were  at  that  time  in  the  city 

—  and  when  they  were  con- 
vened together   he   thus  ad- 

drefled  himfelf  to  them 

"  My  brethren  !  I  am  as  you 
fee  a  prifoner' —  But  I  hayc 
not  incurred  this  mifery  and 
difgrace  for  any  injuftice.  to 
my  countrymen,  or  for  any 
violation  of  our  facred  laws 

—  I  was  feized  at  Jerufalenip 
and  came  into  the  hands  of 
the  Romans, 

1 8  Vv'ho,  after  repeated  ex- 
aminations of  me,  unani-T 
moufly judged  that  I  ought 
to  be  fet  at  liberty,  as  I  had 
perpetrated  no  crime  that  de- 
ferved  death. 


*  Thefe  were  twins,  the  fons  of  Tindarusy  and   the  fuppofed  tatelar 
Deities  of  all  feafaring  people. 
^  This  place  is  mentioned  by  Horace  in  his  journey  to  Brimdujimru 
-"  Inde  Forum  Appi 

Differtum  nautis,  cauponibus  atq;  malignis.  Horat.  lib.  i.  Sat.  5. 
e  No  doubt  Julius  the  centurion  gave  the  pra;fed  of  the  pr.xtorian 
guards  a  minute  account  of  the  voyage,  how  the  apoille  prediclcd  the 
wreck  of  the  vcifel,  and  the  miraculous  cures  he  had  performed  in  McUtl. 
This  accounts  for  the  kind  treatment  he  now  experienced  at  the  court  of 
Rome. 

H  h  2  iO  K'.it 


46S  T^he  Acts  of  the  Apostles.    Chap,  xxviii". 

19  But  as  the  Jews  violent- 
ly oppofed  this  determination 
in  my  favour,  I  was  compel- 
leci  to  the  necefiity  of  appeal- 
ing to  Cjefar's  tribunal — not 
however  from  any  bafe  ftudi- 
ed  defign  to  afperie  and  con- 
demn my  own  country  to  the 
Emperor. 

20  I  have,  therefore,  cal- 
led you  together,  freely  to 
converfe  with  you  on  the  fub- 
jecl  that  hath  occafioned  my 
confinement — For  I  am  load- 
ed with  this  chain  for  my  firm 
belief  in  that  illuftrious  Per- 
fon,  who  fo  long  hath  been 
the  objed  of  Ifrael's  moft  fer- 
vent expeflation. 

2 1  To  this  the.  Jews  replied 
— Wehave  had  no  mention  of 
you  in  any  of  our  letters  from 
Judasa — nor  have  any  one  of 
our  countrymen  who  hath 
come  to  this  city  ever  report- 
ed any  thing  criminal  you 
had  committed or  indeed 


gave  us  any  accounts  at  all  of 
you. 

2  2  We  fhould  be  glad  how- 
ever to  have  your  lentiments 
on  the  topic  you  intimate — 
tho'  we  can  alTure  you,  this 
new  fc6l,  that  hath  lately  ap- 
peared in  the  world,  is  uni- 
vcrfally  decried. 

2:^  Having  accordingly 
fixed  a  day,  a  very  confider- 
able  number  of  them  met  at 
his  houfe — to  whom  he  gave 
z  minute  account  of  the  Chrif- 
4 


tian  difpenfation — exhibiting 
its  evidences  before  them  — - 
interpreting  the  various  pre- 
dictions of  Mofes  and  the  an- 
tient  prophets  — and  by  all 
the  powers  of  argument  and 
pcrfuafion  inforcing  the  prin- 
ciples and  dodlrines  of  Jefus 
— He  difcourfed  to  them  on 
this  fubjed  from  morning  'till 
evening. 

24  Thefe  arguments  con- 
vinced fome  of  the  truth  of 
Chriftianity — but  were  reje6k- 
ed  by  others. 

25  This  their  variety  of 
fentimcnts  concerning  the 
Chriftian  fcheme  occafioning 
a  mutual  contention  and  dif- 
aorreement  among;  them,  the 

aflembly   broke  up Paul 

concludinp;  with  the  followin": 
expreffions — ^Very  juftly  hath 
the  holy  fpirit,  which  infpired 
the  prophet  Ifaiah,  charac- 
terized the  prefent  temper 
and  difpofition  of  the  Jewifh 
nation  in  this  paflage  : 

26  "  Go  to  this  people  and 
fay  to  them — You  fliall  hear 
repeated  accounts  of  the  molt 
amazing  miracles,  but  they 
lliall  produce  no  convidion 
in  your  minds  —  you  fliall  e- 
ven  behold  frequent  difplays 
of  fupernatural  power,  but 
fhall  not  acknowledge  it  to 
be  divine. 

27  For  the  perception  of 
this  people  is  blunted  by  pre- 
i)oflcnion,  fo  that  it  is  impof- 

fible 


Chap,  xxviil.    The  Acts  of  the  Apostles.         469 

29  After  he  had  pronoun- 
ced thefe  words,  they  went 
away    warmly     ensaged 


fible  to  gain  admilTion  to 
their  heart  Dy  the  avenues  of 
any  of  their  fenfes — for  they 
have  neither  the  faculties  of 
feeing,  hearing,  or  under- 
ftanding  to  beflow  on  any 
fcheme  that  hath  a  tendency 
to  produce  a  general  refor- 
mation and  amendment  of  life 
among  them. 

28  Let  me  therefore  fo- 
lemnly  afiure  you  that  upon 
your  wilful  rejedbion  of  this 
divine  religion,  God  hath  ap- 
pointed it  to  be  propagated 
among  the  Heathens^  who  will 
give  it  a  willing  and  favour- 
able reception. 


lr."D 


mutual  debates  on  this  fub- 
je6l. 

§ — 30  Paul  lived  at  Rome 
two  whole  years  in  an  apart- 
ment he  hired  —  where  he 
gave  a  friendly  reception  to 
all  who  waited  upon  him, 

31  publickly  afferting  the 
truth  of  ChFifiianity ex- 
plaining its  nature — and  en- 
forcing the  principles  of  its 
s;reat  author  with  undaunted 
freedom  and  unmolefled  li- 
berty. 


The  End  of  the  First  Volume, 


ERRATA    in    Vol.   I. 

Pt^ge     ^.  njer.  g.  for  hy  —  read — faw 

21.  'ver.  3.  for  no  was  —  r. —  was  no 
34.  ver.  3.  for  illuftrous  —  r. —  illuftrious 
88.  Note,  for  <juy.a.To^  —  r. —  <Tu{.'.'j.TQr 
171.  'ver.  59.  for  this  father  —  r, —  his  father 
J 88.  Note,  for  oivoii  y^vi'  — r. —  on-ov  5V'f?i' 
201.  ver.  1 1,  for  is  denoted  —  r. —  are  denoted 
217.  <ver.  6.  place  reference  {f)  at  hath 
277.  ver.  24,  for  woman  — r. — women 

289.  Note,  for  i-TTi  x.aKv^'S'ittjcii ;•. —  i-riynKxjp^n^cf.v 

3 1 2.  Note,  for  eTctvra^^a  —  r. —  ^.-ravTciijpio 

372.  Note,  for  /infonius  —  r. —  Antoninus 

382.  Note,  for  TiHSoiMcil  —  r.—  'ril'Jaij.'.ti 

453.  ver.  18.  for  for  fomenting  —  r. — or  fomenting 

4^9.  ver.  10.  for  fufFerage — r. —  fufFrage 

463.  NctCj  for  comphatical  —  r. —  emphacical 


ERRATA    in    Vol.  II. 

Page  1 5.  ver.  13.  for  inftrument  —  read —  inftrument: 
38.  ver.  10.  yor  raptures  —  r.— rapture 
48,  ver.  19.  read,  exprefles  it 
59.  Note,  for  KdLV'.fJcv  —  >*• — KdLViucv 
90.  ver.  4.  for  abfolved  —  r. —  abforbed 
ng.  vet.  3. /cr  imagined  —  r. —  imagine 
121.  Note,  for  J^iiTorrov  —  t. —  J^iffrroTov 
123.  ver.  21.  put  and  before  fuprcmacy 
129,  Note,  fur  ¥.K\t)v-.irou —  r. —  F.AAiU'if  Toy 
Ibidem,  for  ^cco^wj.atcov  —  r. —  ^^cotivy.^f.rwv 

1 57.  ver.  4.  for  defigned  —  r. —  deigned 
160.  ver.  10.  for  church  —  r. —  fcheme. 
187.  ver.  24.  for  minillers  —  r. —  minifler 

158.  ver.  ij.for  perfefty  —  r. —  perfectly 
215.  ver.  I .  for  ever  —  r. —  never 

279.  ver.  19.  for  your  virtue  —  r.— virtue 
286.  ver,  JO.  dele  comma  zx  theft. 


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